UP: 3 held for beating woman, shaving her head for interfaith marriage in Barabanki

“As per my wishes, I got married to a youth from my village at a temple. On Monday, my uncles called me home and with other family members beat me up with shoes, slippers and sticks. Initially, they chopped my hair and then shaved my entire head. They also confined me at their home and threatened to kill me,” read the complaint lodged by the police.

In her complaint, the woman mentioned that her parents are dead and that she has no siblings.

On june 19, the woman got married to the 22-year-old Dalit man from the same village, said a police officer. “The girl’s father died a couple of months ago due to old-age related ailments. Her mother had died earlier,” said the SHO of the police station concerned.

Police have booked the woman’s family members under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 355 (assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life). The Epidemic Disease Act and Criminal Law (Amendment) Act have also been invoked against the accused.

“All the accused are the woman’s family members,” said a police officer.

Barabanki Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad on Tuesday said three persons were arrested on Monday night. “The woman’s two uncles and a cousin have been arrested. The other five accused are absconding. We are conducting searches for the other accused,” he said.

He added that the couple were at the man’s house on Tuesday. “We have provided them security,” said Prasad.

Barabanki District Magistrate Adarsh Singh said the administration was reviewing if the couple are eligible for any compensation. “If they are eligible as per the state government and Centre’s rules, we will offer them compensation,” said the DM.