VILLUPURAM:A day after a rape accused married the victim, who was a differently-abled woman, in Ulundurpet on Thursday, with police officials’ blessings, the couple, along with their parents, has left the village and is reportedly staying in an undisclosed place, even as the police continued to strongly deny they were present at the wedding.
While sources said the village panchayat president was the key man behind the mediatory talks and the marriage, he too denied such things took place.
According to sources, the father of D Janaki (25), a visually and hearing impaired woman from Sithathur Colony area near Ulundurpet, came to the Ulundurpet All Women Police Station on Thursday and lodged a rape complaint against Shakthivel (35), an electrician of the same area. The complaint stated that Shakthivel forcibly had physical relationship with Janaki after promising to marry her.
The station in-charge and head constable Ashtalachumi summoned Shakthivel for inquiry. He came to the station with villagers, including panchayat president S Govindaraj, and told the police they would solve the issue by themselves.
Sources said the talks were held in the police station and Janaki’s father withdrew the complaint after Shakthivel agreed to marry her.
Sources said Shakthivel met Janaki a year ago and fell in love with each other. Her parents initially thought the two were just friends, and came to know of the relationship only two weeks ago. Fearing social stigma, they asked Shakthivel to marry Janaki. But Shakthivel’s parents opposed it, citing Janaki’s disability. Even though villagers and the panchayat president tried to talk it out, Shakthivel’s parents were firm on their decision and Janaki’s father lodged a police complaint on Thursday.
Later, Govindaraj went to the police station and spoke to Shakthivel and the woman and informed Shakthivel that he would face dire consequences if the case was filed and advised him to marry her. Shakthivel then accepted Janaki and her father withdrew the complaint. When contacted over phone, the panchayat president said no such incident took place and disconnected the call.