A 21-year-old woman who married her partner against her family’s wishes in Rajasthan was allegedly abducted in west Bengaluru on Wednesday evening, setting off a pursuit that ended with residents stopping the car after it had collided with more than 20 vehicles and left six people injured, police said.
The woman, Pooja, from Melwas village in Rajasthan’s Pali district, was rescued by residents and handed over to the police. Police are searching for Saddam, who allegedly drove the car and fled after residents stopped it. Police are investigating allegations that Pooja’s paternal aunt, who opposed the marriage, hired men to abduct her and take her back to Rajasthan. The couple subsequently moved to Bengaluru.
Three alleged kidnappers, Rakesh, 21, Karan, 25, and Ayas, 18, were arrested. DCP N Yetish said the incident began around 7.30 pm when four men allegedly went to Pooja’s house in Agrahara Dasarahalli, assaulted her husband and forced her into their car. “The incident occurred at around 7.30 pm on Wednesday night when four accused went to the house of Pooja, assaulted her husband and bundled her into a car. More than 20 vehicles were damaged during the chase, including a car belonging to a judge.
They tried to take the car towards Rajasthan, but people chased the car when she screamed out of fear,” he said. “Initial investigation suggests that a paternal aunt of the girl was behind the incident and hired supari goondas to kidnap her and bring her to Rajasthan,” Yetish said. He said police had arrested three of the alleged kidnappers while Saddam escaped. “A case has been registered at Magadi Road police station under multiple sections of the BNS relating to assault, kidnapping and rash and negligent driving,” he said. Police said complaints from vehicle owners whose vehicles were damaged had been included in a single FIR. Police said Pooja and Omprakash, also from Melwas village, had been in a relationship and married about nine months ago despite opposition from their families.
