A local panchayat on Monday kept a couple as hostage for around 36 hours demanding payment of fine amounting to two lakhs rupees in Pokharia police station area in Pakur district. Police later intervened in the case and managed to rescue the couple after a prolonged effort.
The young couple who were in love were nabbed by villagers on Sunday and brought before the local village head. The village head ordered for keeping the couple as hostage while asking the boy and the girl to pay fine of Rs 1.20 lakh and Rs 80,000 respectively for their release.
Unable to mobilize the money parents of the captives sought help from Pukur SP Sunil Bhaskar in this regard. Acting on the direction of SP, the officer-in-charge of the local police station intervened and freed the couple.
“The boy and the girl have been rescued unharmed. It was a tough task convincing the local people to release the couple.
We, however, persisted leading the protestors to give in. Presently talks on solemnizing the marriage of the couple is going on,” said the Pakur SP.
Asked whether police would take action against people involved in the hostage drama the SP stated that parents of the victims have not yet given a compliant in connection with the incident so far.