Fed up with beatings and humiliation almost on a daily basis, a woman in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district found solace and affection in a man who hailed from the same village, about 250 km from here.
They then fell in love, but she did not realise that it was a grave offence in the society she lived in.
On Sunday, Fatima and Akbar (names changed) were tonsured, their faces blackened and then paraded in the village in full public view allegedly by Fatima’s husband Irshad, the village head’s husband Hanif and some others in a bid to teach them a lesson.
Three persons, including Irshad and Hanif, were arrested on Monday, according to police sources.
According to reports, Fatima had married Irshad a few years back. She was subjected to physical torture and humiliation at her in-law’s house almost daily.
A few months ago, she came in contact with Akbar and the two fell in love. Fatima then decided to divorce Irshad and marry her lover.
On Friday, Fatima suddenly reached Akbar's house and refused to go back despite his insistence, as he wanted her to first divorce her husband.
An infuriated Irshad raided Akbar's house on Saturday night with his friends and thrashed the lovers before tying them to a tree for the whole night.
They were tonsured and paraded the next day in the village.
The lovers alleged they were shooed away by police when they approached them for registration of a case against the culprits.
A case was later filed after senior officials intervened. “It is a serious matter. We will take action against the guilty,” said district police chief V D Shukla.
