In a shocking incident highlighting the perils of defying family wishes, a man was tied to a pole and subjected to a brutal assault by his wife's family members in Andhra Pradesh's Eluru district. The attack, a violent backlash against a love marriage, has led to the arrest of six individuals, including the wife's parents.
Eight-Year Relationship Culminates in Violent Backlash
The victim, identified as Sai Chand from Karukollu, filed a formal complaint with the local police detailing the harrowing ordeal. According to his statement, he had been in a relationship with Sai Durga, a postwoman working in Ramanakkapeta village, for an impressive span of eight years. The couple, committed to each other, eventually formalized their union through a love marriage.
This decision, however, was met with fierce opposition from Sai Durga's family. The victim alleged that his in-laws, unable to reconcile with their daughter's choice, concocted a false narrative. They accused him of kidnapping Sai Durga, using this as a pretext for their violent actions.
A Brutal Assault on New Year's Eve
The violence erupted on December 31, casting a dark shadow over the New Year's eve. In the Musunuru mandal area, Sai Chand was allegedly ambushed by his wife's relatives. The assailants, in a premeditated act, tied him to a pole, rendering him helpless, and then proceeded to beat him severely.
"The attack occurred because her parents could not accept the love marriage," Sai Chand stated in his complaint, pinpointing the core motive behind the cruelty. The physical assault was a direct consequence of the couple's defiance of traditional family dictates.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
Acting swiftly on the complaint, the police launched an investigation. Their probe confirmed the victim's allegations, leading to the identification of the primary accused. The investigation revealed that the assault was carried out by Sai Durga's parents, Kandula Babu and Vijayalakshmi, aided by four other relatives.
As a result, all six persons have been taken into custody by the authorities. Following due legal process, they have been remanded to judicial custody. The police have affirmed that a further investigation into the matter is currently underway to examine all aspects of the case.
This incident has sent ripples through the local community in Ramanakkapeta, raising serious concerns about intolerance and violence in the context of inter-caste or self-arranged marriages in certain pockets of the region.
