Newlywed couple start first night at police station in Valsad over breach of night curfew

Valsad: A newlywed couple had to spend the first night after their wedding in a police station in Valsad as the police held them and their relatives for breach of night curfew while entering the city after the wedding at night.

The couple was entering the city at the Pardi area after the completion of their marriage. The police had held them along with their family members for breach of the night curfew. They were then released on bail in the morning.

The groom Piyush Patel alleged that the police misbehaved with them. He said that they had apologized as they were a bit late. Their family members urged them to take action for breach of night curfew against them and release the newlywed, but the police didn’t agree and took them to the police station, he added.

Groom Piyush’s uncle Rajeshbhai who is also a former president of local municipality said, ‘the marriage date was 24th, while new guideline on night curfew was declared on 22nd. As we had distributed the invitation cards and made all arrangements, it was difficult to change the programme. We had already asked all our relatives to leave the wedding venue before 10 so that they can reach their home before night curfew starts. However due to mahurat timings, we had to continue the wedding ceremony post 10.00 pm as there was no other option and we can’t drop the ceremony midway. As we had already asked relatives to leave prior to curfew timings, only 9 of us, the close relatives of groom were let. We along with a driver – total 10 persons were in three cars. As we entered the city, Police Inspector Jadeja stopped the car. He hit the stick over the car and inquired why we were out during night curfew. We explained that it was related to a wedding. We admitted it was our mistake, but there was no option for us. The inspector started speaking in abusive language in great anger and asked groom and others to come to police station. We requested that at least groom and his newly wed wife should be allowed to go home. The Police Inspector in reply said, ‘let me show them another home.’ The behavior of Police man was constantly bad, while we were humbly admitting that yes we breached curfew and it was our mistake, but there was no choice and at least newlywed couple in their wedding dress should be allowed to go.’

Rajeshbhai said, his son is also member of municipality. He said, a newlywed bride was so shocked that she developed fever and she had to taken to a clinic next morning.

When asked, district police chief Rajdeepsinh Zala claimed that the groom party of nine was  not arrested and released after sometime. Zala further claimed that while wedding had concluded earlier in the day, the couple and others were out for different reason.

However the video footage clearly shows that the couple was in wedding dress, the relatives were dressed like wedding festivity and they were travelling in a car with wedding decoration.

Zala explained that the State DGP has directed for human approach while dealing with the cases of breach of curfew. He said those linked to marriage function outside the city limit should keep proof with them to produce before the police during curfew hours. DeshGujarat