Forced marriage bid: Woman files FIR against family, shifted to safe house

A 28-year-old woman has accused her family of forcing her into a marriage against her will and confining her to their home. After she sent an email complaint to the Women’s Commission, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Deputy Commissioner, Police Commissioner and other officials, the police immediately intervened.

An FIR has been registered against her parents and other family members at the Sector 9 police station. Police later rescued the woman from her home and shifted her to a safe house. Family sources, however, claimed that their daughter had been “misled”.

According to police, the complainant is the daughter of a BJP councillor residing in Gurugram’s Sector 9. She was scheduled to be married on December 4 to a man from Daulatabad village. A day before the wedding, she sent an email to authorities alleging that she was being held captive.

In her complaint, the woman stated that she holds MBA, B.Ed and M.Ed degrees and has been in a relationship with a friend for 15 years, whom she wants to marry. She said she had already refused the arranged marriage, but her parents continued to pressure her. When she resisted, she was allegedly locked in a room and her mobile phone was taken away. She claimed she had been confined for several days and preparations for the wedding were still under way despite her objections. She also alleged receiving threats to her life from family members.

Acting on her email, police reached the councillor’s residence and rescued her. An FIR was registered under Sections 127(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Sector 9 police station.

“Following the complaint, an FIR was registered and the complainant was sent into a safe house after being rescued from her home. A further probe is under way,” said Inspector Sunil Kumar, SHO, Sector 9 police station.