He claimed the woman's family forced him to comply
A disturbing incident in Bihar has drawn attention where a teacher was allegedly kidnapped and forced to marry at gunpoint.
In his police complaint, Avnish Kumar said he was abducted while on his way to work.
He said he was travelling in an e-rickshaw when two men forced him into an SUV.
They took him to a temple where, despite his resistance, a wedding ceremony was conducted at gunpoint.
He claimed the woman’s family forced him to comply, with a priest officiating the rituals.
After the wedding, the bride, Gunjan Kumari, accompanied Avinsh to his home.
However, Avinsh Kumar managed to flee when their vehicle stopped near his native village of Rajaura Sikandarpur.
Following his escape, Gunjan and her relatives pursued him to his home, demanding recognition of the marriage.
Avinsh’s family refused to accept Gunjan as their daughter-in-law, prompting her to seek intervention from officers at Mufassil Police Station.
Gunjan gave a starkly different account, claiming she was in a relationship with the teacher for four years.
According to her, the two met when Avinsh worked as a tutor at her elder sister’s home.
Gunjan alleged that Avinsh had promised to marry her after frequent visits to hotels and stays at his house.
She further claimed that after Avinsh Kumar secured his government teaching position, he began to avoid her, blocking her calls and cutting off contact.
In her police complaint, Gunjan stated: “I visited him several times in Katihar and stayed with him for days at his invitation.”
Mufassil Police Station has forwarded the case to the Mahila Helpline for counselling.
Station House Officer (SHO) Arvind Kumar Gautam noted that the alleged kidnapping and forced marriage occurred outside their jurisdiction.
However, the claims are still under investigation.
Meanwhile, Avinsh has filed a complaint in Katihar, alleging kidnapping and physical assault.
The incident has raised questions over ‘Pakadua Vivah‘.
Pakadua Vivah, an archaic and controversial tradition, involves a bride’s family abducting an unmarried man, sometimes at gunpoint, and forcing him into marriage.
While the practice saw a decline, recent years have witnessed a troubling resurgence, often linked to rising dowry demands.
In 2024, Bihar recorded its highest number of groom kidnappings over a three-decade period.
A similar case emerged in Vaishali district, where another school teacher got married under duress.
Avinsh admitted to knowing Gunjan but insisted their relationship had ended before he began his teaching job.
He claimed to have blocked her number, though she allegedly continued to contact him through other means.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, but it has reignited debates about the persistence of such practices.
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