New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS): A lesbian couple ostracized in Mumbai fled to Delhi to live a life of their own free will. But on Saturday evening they found a Mumbai police team at their door steps, ready to arrest them, as one of the girl's family had slapped a theft case against the duo, an NGO member has alleged.

The girls, frightened on seeing the police, locked themselves in their house in Vasant Kunj area of south Delhi. But the police team was ready to break-in with gas-cutters and hammers.

After intervention of an NGO, however, police agreed to let the couple go provided they appeared in a local police station Sunday morning.

"The Mumbai police were there with gas-cutters and hammers to break open the door and the girls were crying for help," Anjali Gopalan, a member of women's rights organisation Sangini, present at the spot told IANS.

The NGO member said that the police has also threatened to arrest one of their members on the claim that she misbehaved with police. The NGO activist was asked to sit in a police van for more than four hours, she alleged.

"They threatened to arrest one of our members, saying she insulted the police. We were only trying to stop them from breaking the door," she said.

The couple, a 19-year-old and her companion in her late 20s, had fled their homes in Mumbai and come to Delhi recently. The family of one of the girl lodged a police complaint that she stole valuables and ornaments.

Delhi Police officials present on the spot said they were there to see no untoward incident takes place.

"The Mumbai police team discussed the issue with an advocate and it was agreed that the girl will be present in police station Sunday morning," an official said.

Gopalan added, "The girls have told the National Commission for Women that they don't want to go back to Mumbai. But the family has lodged a case of stealing against them and Mumbai police team members are here preparing to break the door."