Kerala— In a shocking incident that unfolded in Kerala, an interfaith couple faced a distressing ordeal just moments before their wedding at a temple near Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram. The bride, originally from a Muslim background, was forcibly separated from the Hindu groom by the police on Sunday evening. The entire scene resembled something out of a movie, as captured visuals showed the bride vehemently expressing her desire not to leave, while being coerced into a private vehicle by the police, under the influence of the bride's relatives. The video clip has gone viral in the social media.

Heartbreakingly, the police prevented the groom from approaching his distressed bride, as evidenced in the footage. One of the officers could be seen and heard yelling at the screaming bride to enter the vehicle. Eventually, after being forcibly pushed inside, the vehicle sped away with the bride accompanied by the officers.

The couple later revealed in an interview with a local television channel that the bride, named Alfia, was taken to a magisterial court, where she provided a statement affirming her decision to leave with the groom, Akhil, willingly. She expressed her desire to be with him. "After giving my statement, I was allowed to leave with Akhil, who had also arrived at the court," she shared.

On the other hand, a senior police officer from Alappuzha district explained to the media that a missing person complaint had been filed at the Kayamkulam police station, necessitating the need to present the woman before a court. "The officers were directed to bring the woman before the court, so they were merely carrying out their duty. I am not aware of any use of force by them. The girl informed the court that she wants to be with the groom, and she left with him," the officer clarified . He further assured that he would investigate any allegations of police misconduct.

Contrarily, Alfia stated that the police had taken her away despite her previous statement made a few days prior, confirming her intention to leave with Akhil, whom she had known for over a year, of her own free will for marriage. "The missing person complaint was lodged by my parents at the Kayamkulam police station. They do not want me to live with him; they want to separate us," she disclosed.

Didn't let me go near her, was mistreated, says groom

Akhil, recounting the harrowing moments just before their wedding, expressed his dismay. "The police arrived in two vehicles from Kayamkulam and disrupted our wedding, forcefully dragging her away. At Kovalam police station, they prevented me from approaching her, pushed me aside, and mistreated me. Such behavior from the police was unexpected," Akhil lamented.

Nonetheless, this daunting experience only strengthened their determination to marry each other, undeterred by the obstacles they faced. Akhil stated that they would pursue a complaint against the police for their conduct.

In India, Muslim boys and girls are encouraged by their community to marry Hindus after converting to Islam. However, when Hindu boys attempt to marry Muslim girls through interfaith marriages, they often face strong opposition from the Muslim community, aiming to prevent such unions.

Despite tremendous hurdles in their path, Alfia and Akhil triumphed over societal barriers and successfully tied the knot on Tuesday, showcasing their courage and the power of love.