'Kidnap' drama at temple as girl, lover hoodwink family to marry in Telangana's Sircilla district

HYDERABAD: In a scene straight out of a Tollywood film, an 18-year-old woman was 'kidnapped' from a temple in Sircilla district in the early hours of Tuesday by four men in a car even as her father watched helplessly. Soon, police launched a manhunt for the accused, while the video of the kidnap went viral.
Even as police apprehended two accused and started interrogating them to locate the 'kidnapper', the woman released a video on social media claiming that she had willingly gone with her lover and married him in a temple.Seeking protection from her family, Shalini said they were dead against the marriage as Gyaneshwar (22) belongs to SC community. Shalini is a Munnur Kapu (BC).
"We have been in love for the last four years. A year ago, we got married. But as I was a minor, my parents lodged a complaint and Gyaneshwar was sent to prison. My family did not accept him as he is a Dalit.
I called him to take me away as my family was planning to marry me off to someone else. As he wore a mask, I did not recognise him but later I realised it was him and went along. I married him willingly. There is a threat from my family. I need protection," Shalini said in the video released after marriage.
The dawn drama happened at Moodapally village in Chandurthi mandal at around 5 am when Shalini, a college dropout, along with her father Chandraiah, a driver, came to the Hanuman temple. While Shalini and Chandraiah were inside the temple, four persons arrived there in a car.
While one sat in the car, three others got out. One of the men forced Shalini into the car even as she tried to escape and the others pushed away Chandraiah and fled along with her.
Based on CCTV visuals, police identified the main accused as Gyaneshwar, an unemployed youngster from the village, and launched a manhunt to nab them.
Police quickly rounded up two of the suspects from Vemulawada. Even while cops were looking for Shalini and Gyaneshwar, they came across a video shared by Shalini. Sircilla district superintendent of police Rahul Hegde said they were waiting for Shalini and Gyaneshwar to come out.
"They married in a temple at Luxettipet. Once they come to us, we will record their statements and act accordingly," he said. Gyaneshwar was arrested earlier in a Pocso case for eloping with the girl while she was a minor and marrying her, Hegde said.