‘Pre-wedding tantrum’: Groom demands release of cousin in Amroha

BIJNOR: The groom rode on his ceremonial horse while the band played but he did not head for his would-be bride’s house. The baraat stopped at Didauli police station in Amroha district. The groom alighted from his horse and demanded the release of his cousin as a pre-condition for the wedding to go ahead. Giving details, Didauli station house officer Suneel Malik said Nanhe Singh, 24, from Berkheda was to get married to Manju Kumari of Sambhal on Saturday. On Friday, the bride’s father Sohan Singh, brother Vinit Kumar and brother-in-law Subhash Singh had come to Nanhe's house to perform some pre-wedding rituals. Nanhe's cousin Ankit Kumar got into scuffles with the bride's relatives. Three people were injured. The bride's father filed a complaint against Ankit. While police sent the injured to hospital, Ankit was detained. Some relatives claimed that a compromise was reached but Ankit was not released. “We are helpless as legal procedure has to be followed before Ankit can be released,” said SHO Malik. On learning about groom Nanhe’s presence at the police station, some members of the bride’s family rushed there. At the time of filing this copy, no compromise had been reached. Nanhe had not budged from the police station. Some of the bride’s family members said action should be taken against the groom and his relatives for not marrying.