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Rajasthan cop’s daughter escapes ‘forced wedding’ after her video seeking help goes viral

BSc student Reena Singh had uploaded video pleading with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Deputy CM Sachin Pilot & PM Narendra Modi to step in and get her wedding called off.

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New Delhi: A 22-year-old girl from Alwar district managed to get her wedding called off after her video, in which she can be seen accusing her family of forcibly trying to get her married, was widely shared on social media.  

In the 80-second video, which went viral on 15 June, Reena Singh is seen pleading with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step in and stop her wedding. Reena was to get married on 1 July. 

Once the video emerged, the Gehlot government took cognisance of the matter and the girl’s family had to submit a written statement at the Harsaura police station in Alwar that they will not force Reena to get married against her will.

The video went viral as it was posted and shared widely on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other on social media platforms.

‘Hadn’t even met the groom, villages have no toilet’

Reena, who is pursuing B.Sc degree while residing in Jaipur, shot the video at her native Chadula village in Alwar district. In the video, she says she was brought to Chadula on the pretext that her ancestral home required repairing but was forced to get engaged on 20 May.  

“My wedding has also been fixed for 1 July. Neither have I been introduced to the boy nor have I been able to talk to him,” she says in the video. “I want to study further and get a job. My younger sister’s life is also being ruined.”

She also alleged that the groom’s village does not have any toilet, just like her own village.

“The village where my wedding has been fixed has no toilets, and girls don’t have any rights there. My entire life will be ruined,” she adds. “I want to say that please make this video viral. If they come to know that I am pleading for help in such a manner, then I will be beaten and my phone will also be confiscated.”

Reena also says in the video that she does not want to get married before she is self-reliant. The video gained prominence on social media as she highlighted the non-availability of toilets in the villages, and the matter reached the administrative level. 

Satya Narayan, the SHO of Harsoura police station, told ThePrint that the video went viral on 15 June, and that the police took cognisance of it the same day,  

“We asked Reena’s father Banne Singh, her uncle, her grandfather and mother to submit a written application that they will not get her married against her wishes,” Narayan said. “We have also procured a stay order from the court. The proposed wedding was cancelled on the same day. Reena’s family has said that they will not force her to get married.” 


Also read: Mother of ‘murdered’ NLU Jodhpur student seeks CBI probe, SC issues notice


Internal family matter: Father 

Reena’s father Banne Singh is an inspector with the Rajasthan Police and is currently posted at the Dholpur police station. He told ThePrint that it was “an internal family matter”. “It was never a big issue any way,” he said. “We have accepted our daughter’s requests. We have also submitted an application in the police station.”

Asked about the absence of toilet facility in his house, he said the family lives in a rented accommodation in Jaipur, and had just reached the village a few days ago to get repair work done.  

ThePrint tried to talk to Reena also but did not succeed. “I am a police officer myself, and fully comprehend the importance of law,” Banne Singh said.


Also read: Farmers, districts ready for another wave of locusts coming from Iran and Pakistan in July


 

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