Kishore Peraje
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Jan 27: Two youths, who had loved two sisters, developed physical relationship with them, and were trying to shirk from their responsibilities by going absconding after finding that the girls had conceived, were made to marry their respective partners by the people with police support.
While the marriage of one of these sisters was performed at Nooji in the taluk on Saturday, the people caught hold of the other youth, who had been trying to remain aloof, and convinced him to marry his partner on Monday. The second marriage was held at B C Road.
Out of the three daughters of Krishna Naik from Nooji village, one has already been married off. Out of his other two daughters, Nalini (24) fell in love with Gopal from Kulalu near Salethur, while Rajani (20) was attracted towards Ashok from Manolitota in Bolantoor. The sisters had no inkling that Ashok and Gopal, who were friends, had been acting like being in love for becoming closer physically rather than with the intention of developing lifelong bond. Both Ashok and Gopal work as coolies, and both the sisters turned pregnant almost simultaneously.
A few days back, Rajani experienced labour pain after which she was admitted into Wenlock Hospital at Mangaluru. She gave birth to a male baby but she had abandoned the newborn among bushes near Salethur. When some elders in the region confronted her, she gave information about her relationship with Ashok. She also revealed to them that her sister, Nalini, was also in the family way due to the relationship she had with Gopal.
The villagers thereafter kept vigil on the movements of the two youth. After stumbling upon Ashok in a Daiva Kola religious programme, the villagers sought help from police to make him marry the girl. The poilce brought Ashok from his home on Monday, held talks with both the sides in the presence of village elders, and arranged for immediate marriage at Rakteshwari shrine in B C Road. Former Agricultural Produce Market Committee president, Nemiraj, Ramadas Bantwal, and several other dignitaries and villagers were present.
A number of local women expressed solidarity with the girls, and strived sincerely to make the marriages happen. Policemen from Vittal and Bantwal rural police stations extended support for their endeavour.