The woman, identified as Pooja, had married 23-year-old Om Prakash around eight to nine months ago and subsequently moved to Bengaluru. The couple had been living in a rented house in Agrahara Dasarahalli.
According to police, Pooja’s family opposed the marriage and allegedly sent four men from Rajasthan to Bengaluru to take her back. The men allegedly took her from her residence and fled in a Hyundai Venue. The incident later turned into a road chase, with the vehicle colliding with several other vehicles and leaving six people injured.
Woman allegedly taken from Bengaluru home
Pooja, a resident of Melwas village in Rajasthan, had married Om Prakash despite opposition from their families, according to reports.
After their marriage, the couple moved to Bengaluru and settled in Agrahara Dasarahalli. Police said the woman’s family subsequently traced her location and sent four men to the city.
The men allegedly reached the couple’s residence on Wednesday and forcibly took Pooja away in a Hyundai Venue bearing registration number RJ 22 CC 9691.
Locals reportedly heard the woman screaming and attempted to intervene. The vehicle, however, allegedly sped away towards Vijayanagar and Hosahalli.
Car chase leaves six injured
The alleged kidnapping led to a chase as people in the area followed the vehicle and tried to stop it.
According to police, the driver was driving recklessly at around 8 pm when the Hyundai Venue collided with several vehicles. Six people were injured in the resulting collisions.
The injured have been identified as Prithviraj, 12, Yashika, 9, Amul, 35, Mani, 64, Jayalakshmi, 57, and Santosh, 33.
Jayalakshmi suffered a head injury and was admitted to the ICU of a nearby private hospital, according to police reports.
The incident caused considerable commotion on the road, with locals attempting to stop the vehicle. The car was eventually stopped near Hosahalli.
Three accused arrested, driver absconding
Police identified the four men allegedly involved in taking Pooja as Saddam, Rakesh, Karan and Ayan, all from Rajasthan.
Saddam, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, is currently absconding. Police have arrested Rakesh, 31, Karan, 25, and Ayan, 18.
The Hyundai Venue has also been seized by police as part of the investigation. Pooja was rescued and handed over to the police.
Police are questioning those involved to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction and the subsequent road accident.
Public initially suspected kidnapping
The incident also resulted in confusion among people who witnessed the vehicle being driven away with the woman.
According to a Times of India report, some locals suspected that the men were attempting to kidnap the woman and chased the vehicle. The situation escalated after the vehicle was damaged and some of the men were assaulted by members of the public.
The woman later told police that the men were members of her own family who had come from Rajasthan following her marriage against their wishes.
Police have sought the woman’s complaint in connection with the alleged attempt by her family to take her back to Rajasthan. The exact legal action in the case is part of the ongoing investigation.
Inter-caste marriage at centre of dispute
The incident has brought attention to the circumstances surrounding Pooja’s marriage.
According to police and media reports, Pooja and Om Prakash are both from Rajasthan and had married against the wishes of their families. Reports also state that the marriage was an inter-caste union, which was opposed by her family.
The alleged attempt to take Pooja back to Rajasthan has consequently become a central aspect of the police inquiry.
At the same time, the road chase and collisions have raised separate concerns because people who were not directly connected to the dispute were injured during the incident.
Police are now investigating both the alleged abduction and the circumstances that led to the vehicle collisions.
Investigation continues
The three arrested men remain in police custody while investigators work to establish the sequence of events leading from Pooja’s alleged removal from her residence to the road chase and crash.
The driver, Saddam, remains absconding and police are attempting to trace him.
The six injured people are receiving medical treatment, with Jayalakshmi’s head injury reported to be serious.
The incident has drawn attention to the difficulties faced by couples who marry against family wishes, while the police investigation will determine the circumstances and legal responsibility in the alleged kidnapping and subsequent road accident.