Forced Marriage Case Emerges in Barh, Patna; Student Kidnapped and Marital Claims Disputed

Patna: A disturbing case of forced marriage has come to light in Barh, Patna, following the kidnapping of a 24-year-old student, Shubham Kumar, from Bahadurpur area on Monday evening. Authorities confirmed that Shubham was abducted by a group of individuals in a Scorpio vehicle and taken to Harauli village, where he was allegedly beaten and subjected to a forced marriage later that night.

According to reports, Shubham’s father, Upendra Prasad, was informed on Tuesday morning by the girl’s family about the marriage. This prompted him to file a complaint at Barh police station. Upon receiving the complaint, police promptly intervened, rescuing both Shubham and the girl from the location. The student, who resides in Patna and is preparing for competitive exams, was found in a distressed state.

Santosh Yadav, a member of the girl’s family, denied the accusations of abduction and coercion. “Shubham used to visit his friend’s house, where he met the girl. They had been in contact and spoke on the phone. There was no forced marriage, and the allegations of kidnapping and beating are baseless,” he stated.

In contrast, Shubham’s father, Upendra Prasad, expressed outrage over the incident, accusing the girl’s side of kidnapping and assaulting his son. “My son was beaten up and forcibly married. Santosh Yadav of Harouli, along with others, abducted my son,” Prasad said.

Barh police station in-charge, Arun Kumar Singh, confirmed the details of the case. “Upon receiving information, our team reached the spot. We have recovered both the boy and the girl. The boy, who had been studying in Patna, was kidnapped on Monday evening and brought to Harauli village, where the forced marriage took place. Statements from both parties have been recorded, and the case has been forwarded to the concerned police station for further investigation.”