Rajkot: Kamlabaug police in Porbandar registered two FIRs for an altercation at the collectorate, where a couple who registered their marriage under the Special Marriage Act were confronted by the woman’s relatives. The relatives allegedly tried to force her to cancel the registration and kidnapped her.According to the FIRs, the alleged offence occurred around 4.30pm on Thursday near the main gate of the collectorate at Seva Sadan. The first complaint was filed by Dhiraj Parmar, while the second was lodged by Ashwin Vadhel, a police employee attached to the 112 emergency response service.The first FIR states that Parmar, who is from a scheduled caste, registered his marriage with Fatima, a Muslim woman, at the marriage registrar’s office on Aug 4 under the Special Marriage Act. Parmar told police that Fatima had told him that her family was taking her to the collectorate to pressure her into cancelling the marriage registration.Parmar said he reached the collectorate on getting the message from Fatima and found many of her relatives there. He alleged that he was abused, assaulted and threatened with caste-based remarks. When police arrived in an emergency response vehicle, Parmar and Fatima were reportedly taken inside it.Parmar alleged that Akbar Selot, who said he was a lawyer, stopped the vehicle near the main gate. According to the complaint, Akbar and seven others forced open the rear door of the vehicle, pulled Fatima out and took her away in a car. Parmar further alleged that the group threatened to kill him and made derogatory remarks.The second FIR was filed by Vadhel, who was on duty with the emergency response vehicle. His complaint broadly corroborates the sequence of events involving the vehicle. Vadhel alleged that Akbar stopped the vehicle by standing in front of it and objected to police taking Fatima away.Vadhel further alleged that Akbar and seven other men and women forcibly opened the vehicle door and pulled Fatima out. He also alleged that the group obstructed him while he was performing his official duties, pushed him and prevented the vehicle from moving. Fatima was taken away in a car, after which Vadhel took Parmar to Kamlabaug police station.The first FIR names eight accused, including Akbar, Fatima’s parents and other relatives, as well as a community leader. Police have invoked charges of kidnapping, assault, criminal intimidation, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, unlawful assembly, rioting, criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.The second FIR invokes BNS provisions relating to obstruction and interference with lawful duties and names Akbar as an accused.Police said both cases have been registered and the accused arrested, adding that further investigation is underway.
