Bhopal, May 22: A series of violent clashes started between two families in a village in Morena district after a 35-year-old married woman reportedly eloped with a 19-year-old youth on Saturday morning.
Armed villagers of Khadoli, 26 km from Morena town, allegedly abducted another woman from the youth's family at a gun point and kept her captive even as some top police officials were on the spot, trying to pacify the situation. Armed with deadly weapons, villagers have been sitting guard since Sunday afternoon demanding the return of the woman who eloped.
According to the police, Neetu Shikharwar, mother of two children reportedly eloped with 19-year-old Avdesh Shikharwar. Avdesh and Neetu are distant relatives. Their families reside in the same village and the woman is the youth's aunt by relation. However, the village with a population of over 5,000 was aware of a love affair between the two. Avdesh works in a diamond cutting unit in Surat in Gujarat and is financially doing well. He had come home from Surat for a few days.
But all hell broke loose when Neetu's husband Mayaram discovered that his wife for nearly 20 years had eloped with Avdesh who was the neighbour's son and his nephew. More than 700 men, armed with guns, sticks and sharp-edged weapons gathered at the village where a panchayat was called to address the issue. On Sunday, the panchayat gave its verdict that Neetu was to be traced and returned to her husband by the youth's family.
Avdesh's family said that the youth was wayward and out of their control. They also did not have information about the couple's whereabouts. The matter was taken to Devgarh police station where a missing report was filed.
Angry over the police inaction, villagers attacked the youth's family. A violent armed clash followed between both the families involving more than 1,500 persons with several rounds of firing throughout Sunday. Mayaram Shikarwar led a mob, which entered Avdesh's house and at gun point abducted a married woman, identified as Rekha. "Bring back my wife or this married woman stays with me,'' Mayaram told Avdesh's parents.
A large contingent of police force was called and senior officers tried to talk to both the sides out of the present crisis. But villagers are adamant - they want Neetu back, failing which Rekha remains with Mayaram. Half the village is guarding the door where they have kept Rekha captive.
DIG Chambal range DP Gupta said on Monday, "The woman who eloped did so on her own. The police cannot help in such a situation. But the abduction of another woman is serious. We have registered a case of kidnapping against 25 persons. Mayaram Shikharwar is the prime accused."
Comments
Add new comment