Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 6: Perhaps for the first time in the city, two girls, who are related to each other, have got married. This development has rung alarm bells ringing in both the families, sending relatives and police in a tizzy.

A case about this incident has since been registered in the women's helpline in the office of the city police commissioner. The incident has also been hogging lot of limelight besides giving rise to discussions in various forums including social websites.

Leela (21), a commerce student of a private college in the city was in love with Radha (25), a distant relative and daughter of a businessman currently employed in a call centre since long (both names have been changed to protect privacy). The girls have entered wedded life and begun living in a rented house in Koramangala here as they have been facing stiff opposition to the relationship from their respective parents as well as relatives.

The two know each other since the last many years, and were seen together in malls, cinema halls and functions. Although the student had confessed about her feeling of love to her elder companion, Radha had not given positive response to this gesture, it is said. Later, certain incidents which happened in their lives brought them closer and made them think of entering into official relationship, it is gathered.

Leela who raised the topic of her feelings for Radha fought with her parents as they opposed her proposal outright. She left home and began to live with Radha in the latter's paying guest accommodation after deserting her family on May 17 this year. They later got married in a temple and began to live together by hiring a house in Koramangala. Parents of Leela who came to know about this development, had approached Vijayanagara police station to register complaint. In the meanwhile, the two girls hired a lawyer through an NGO fighting for the rights of gays. They conveyed to their parents that they cannot live without each other. Thereafter, as per the advice of the police, the parents filed complaint with women's helpline.

Personal counsellors from the helpline met the girls separately and held detailed discussions with them. During these discussions too it emerged that the girls were not agreeable to get separated. They said that they have begun to live separate from their families because of opposition to their relationship and harassment faced from their families.  Officials of the helpline now plan to to summon both the girls and their parents to the counselling centre together so that all issues can be sorted out threadbare.

Deputy commissioner (west), Anuchet, said that he has no information about gay marriage in his division that no complaints have been received so far.