Police defy panchayat's wrath, unite couple

Reshma’s affair with her maternal uncle’s son Imtiyaz had triggered objection from local panchayat leaders, forcing them to flee from the village, police said on Tuesday.

Her pregnancy had compounded the opposition and the panchayat had threatened to kill her. She is said to have undergone an abortion.

However, odds ended for the couple on Monday when the local police warned the panchayat against its murderous ways and sought its support.

The consent of both families was also secured and the marriage was solemnised, police said.