Aligarh: Days after an Aligarh woman allegedly eloped with her would-be son-in-law, the Uttar Pradesh police tracked them down, just before the duo was about to cross into Nepal, and brought them back.
Anita Devi (40), however, claimed they returned voluntarily after seeing “objectionable” news reports about them, and told the police she wants to stay with the man, identified as Rahul Singh (25).
Devi’s daughter Shivani was scheduled to get married to Rahul, a resident of a village under the Dadon police station, on 16 April. Preparations were in full swing at their homes.
According to the Aligarh police, Devi disappeared from her home on 8 April with cash and jewellery, and around the same time, Rahul’s phone was also switched off and became untraceable. The matter came to light when Devi’s husband Jitendra Kumar filed a missing persons complaint.
“An FIR was registered at the Madrak police station and a special team was formed and a search launched. Finally, they were tracked down on the Nepal border before they could cross over,” Iglas Circle Officer Mahesh Kumar told ThePrint. Uttar Pradesh shares a nearly 600-km long open border with Nepal.
Jitendra Kumar said his wife left the house telling him she was going to a relative’s place. “Anita was busy with the wedding preparations. On 8 April, she left the house telling me she was going to her sister’s house. But she did not return. We searched a lot but when we got no clue, a police complaint was lodged.”
Jitendra’s family later found out cash and jewellery were missing too.
Police said Devi and Rahul belong to the Banjara scheduled tribe. The incident has shocked the families, relatives and the villagers. Jitendra Singh’s house, where the wedding preparations were going on, now wears a desolate look.
“I never imagined my wife running away with our daughter’s fiancé like this. This is not just a betrayal, it is an attack on the honour of our entire family,” Jitendra said, adding: “Now people are calling and telling me about Rahul’s past doings. Earlier also he had eloped with two young women by luring them, but then his family members somehow managed to get the matter suppressed.”
According to the police, Devi during the initial interrogation also told them her husband used to beat her up and did not give her money.
CO Mahesh Kumar told ThePrint that the police are also investigating claims about Rahul having allegedly eloping with two other women in the past. No police complaint was lodged in the previous cases. Rahul’s family refused to comment on the case.
While Rahul is in police custody, Devi has been sent to a One Stop Center as she complained of domestic violence.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Typical Hindi heartland culture. No wonder UP is an integral part of the infamous “cow belt”.