UP: Marriage called off after ‘baraat’ thrashed for arriving with 15 extra guests for ‘chicken meal’

BAREILLY: Like any other wedding ceremony, an excited Ajay Kumar (name changed) arrived at the venue of his marriage in a village at Lakhimpur Kheri district on Friday night with guests dancing to DJ’s tune. However, the groom never in his wildest dreams thought that members of the ‘baraat’ would be thrashed by his would-be in-laws over a trivial issue like ‘chicken dish’. The bride’s family was mainly unhappy as Kumar arrived with 15 extra guests.
Now, instead of returning with his wife, he went back home alone with some members of the ‘baraat’ battered and bruised. His marriage was called off. In fact, the groom had to flee through a crop field.
The family of the bride had prepared a chicken dish for dinner for around 50 guests to honour the groom’s demand. But, after seeing the additional guests, the bride’s family raised objections and asked the father of the groom to send them back.
Thereafter, both the parties were engaged in a severe argument and in the heat of the moment the bride’s family allegedly thrashed the groom’s uncle and two other members. The marriage was then called off and the police were informed about the matter. The injured uncle has been admitted to a hospital in Lakhimpur city.
Kumar, aged 21, is a resident of Saidipur village of Phoolbehar block. He was supposed to marry Neha, 19 (name changed), a resident of Pipra Marora village, according to Hindu customs. However, on groom’s special demand, the bride’s parents agreed to serve chicken at the feast for a strict guest list of 50 people. Since both the villages are close by, the information about chicken being served flew like fire.
The wedding procession started in Saidipur village with limited guests and reached Pipra Marora with around 65 to 70 people. Most of them were also under the influence of alcohol.
Sub-Inspector Suneel Kumar, in-charge of Sundarbal police post of Phoolbehar police station, is probing into the incident. Narrating the incident to TOI, Suneel Kumar said, “Both the villages are situated at a distance of merely 150 metres and the families had several common relatives. Since the girl’s family was poor, they requested groom’s family to come with limited number of guests. Chicken was especially prepared on the request of groom for the guests but after seeing 15-20 extra guests, the girl’s family asked the groom’s to reduce the number of guests. But, it was taken as an insult by the groom’s family and groom’s uncle abused the other party which triggered the clash at the venue and the marriage was called off.”