Girl steps out to give exam, elopes

DEHRADUN: Imagine a couple’s surprise when they blessed and sent off their daughter for her Class XII exam, only to find her decked up in bridal wear and married in a neighbour’s house at night!
The girl from Kotwali near Vikasnagar had worn her school uniform and taken her parents’ blessings on Friday before going for exam. However, she eloped with her neighbour, Devashish, to Dehradun and got married.
When the girl did not return home till late, her worried parents informed the Vikasnagar police. On getting to know that she was in Devashish’s house, they rushed there and were shocked to find their daughter wrapped in a red sari and wearing sindoor.
The girl told her parents that she would now stay in his house. Enraged by this, the parents allegedly started beating up the new couple, prompting the police to intervene and take the girl into their custody.
"On being questioned, she produced her age and marriage certificates and told us that she would not go with her parents," station officer of Vikasnagar police station, Rajiv Dhandriyal, said.
The girl was later produced before Vikasnagar SDM Arivind Pandey, where she told him that she is 19 and her marriage has been solemnized according to Hindu traditions in a prominent temple in Dehradun. After listening to the girl and seeing her age proof police took no action.
Strange are the ways of love and passion! This class XII girl from Kotwali area near Vikasnagar had left her home in the morning to take a school exam. However, rather than going to the school, she chose the day to tie the knot with the boy she loved and shift to her in-law’s house as a newly-wedded bride in the evening.
Rekha (name change), said police, was in love with one of her neighbours, Devashish for the past several years, but her parents were against the relationship. Rekha’s parents used to stop her from meeting Devashish, who stays with his parents in the same area, police added.
On Friday morning, Rekha wore her school uniform and got ready for her school. She took her parents’ blessing for success in her ‘exam’ and went to Devashish’s house. The two left for Dehradun and got married in a temple here. The couple also registered their marriage in a local court, police added.
However, when Rekha did not return home till late, her parents informed the Vikasnagar police. In the meantime, they came to know that Rekha was in Devashish’s house and reached their along with the cops. Rekha’s parents were shocked to see their daughter wrapped in a red gaudy sari and wearing all signs of married women like vermilion (sindoor), red bindi and mangalsutra (necklace).
Rekha told her parents that she has married Devashish and would now live in his house. Enraged by this, her parents allegedly started beating up the new couple ruthlessly. The police intervened and took Rekha in their custody. "On being questioned she produced her age and marriage certificates and told us that she would not go with her parents," Station Officer of Vikasnagar police station, Rajiv Dhandriyal, said.
Rekha was later produced before the Vikasnagar SDM, Arivind Pandey and told him that she is 19 and that her marriage has been solemnised according to the Hindu traditions in a prominent temple in Dehradun. "After listening to the girl and seeing her age and marriage certificate, the SDM wished happy married life to the couple and freed them," Dhandriyal, added.