Inter-caste couple seeks police protection on social media

PALANPUR: An newly married couple who tied the nuptial knot outside their caste against wishes of their families and community members has made a desperate appeal for police protection in Thara taluka of Banaskantha.
In a video posted on social media the couple — Arjun Prajapati and Sonal Desai— asks sub-inspector (PSI) of Thara police station MJ Chaudhary to give them protection. The the couple got married in a court at Junagadh couple of months back.
Prajapati has alleged in the video that though he and Desai have got married legally, his parents and other community members are being harassed by Desai’s relatives.
“My wife’s family members are harassing my family members despite the fact that Sonal (Desai) had come with me on her own. Even the police is not taking complaint from my family. People of Prajapati community are also being harassed by Sonal’s community members often,” Prajapati said in the video that has gone viral on social media.
In another video Desai is also heard appealing to her father Pasabhai Desai to not harass Prajapati’s family members. “Father I have come on my own will, so why are you harassing Arjun’s (Prajapati) family. We have married legally and Arjun’s family is not to be blamed,” Desai is heard in the video.
Parajapati and Desai are residents of Itarva village, some 12 km from Thara town. They are childhood friends and used to study in the same school. As they grew into adults they decided to get married.
However, the girl’s parents and other community members of the village objected to the inter-caste marriage. They even urged the police to bring back their daughter, said Chaudhary.
“On inquiry, the couple submitted evidence them being adults and also produced valid marriage certificate issued by competent authority. We had tired to convince the girl’s community members opposing the marriage,” he added.
“We have asked the couple to lodge complaint if they find risk to their lives,” said Chaudhary.