Bihar, A government school teacher in Bihar, Gautam Kumar, faced a harrowing ordeal when he was kidnapped from his school and forced to marry the kidnapper’s daughter at gunpoint. The incident sheds light on the disturbing practice of ‘Pakadwa Vivah’ in the region.
Gautam Kumar, recently appointed as a teacher at Utkramit Madhya Vidyalaya in Patepur’s Repura, was forcibly taken from the school by three to four individuals in a four-wheeler. The shocking incident has sparked outrage, with Kumar’s family blocking a road in protest on Wednesday night.
In response to the incident, Bihar Police initiated a search operation, eventually locating Gautam Kumar on Thursday. Kumar, a resident of Maheya Malpur village, revealed to the police that he was compelled into marrying the daughter of Rakesh Rai from Repura village.
A case has been registered against the woman’s father, and the incident highlights the need for addressing the concerning practice of ‘Pakadwa Vivah’ in Bihar. Gautam Kumar, invoking a recent Patna High Court verdict, expressed his refusal to accept the forced marriage.
The ‘Pakadwa Vivah’ tradition is not uncommon in Bihar, with similar incidents reported in the past. In 2022, a veterinarian was kidnapped and forcibly married in Begusarai during a routine visit. Such incidents underscore the challenges in eradicating this regressive practice.
The incident raises questions about the safety and security of individuals, especially in educational institutions. It also prompts a broader societal conversation about the need to address deeply rooted practices that violate personal autonomy and consent.
As Bihar grapples with the aftermath of this disturbing incident, there is a renewed call for legal and societal measures to curb the practice of ‘Pakadwa Vivah’ and ensure the safety of individuals, particularly in vulnerable situations like educational institutions.
