Bangalore:
Beaten up for being in a relationship with a man her parents didn't approve of, Bangalore girl Hamsa knocked on the doors of police for protection.
The parents of 18-year-old Hamsa, who is in love with Arun Kumar (20), are against their relationship as Arun belongs to a different caste. Hamsa belongs to Reddy community while Arun is from the Gowda community.
"I had told my parents five months ago itself but they were against my wish. They don't want me to get married to Arun as he belongs to Gowda community.
My parents had also told me that if I get married to Arun they would commit suicide," said Hamsa.
Arun's family is not against their relationship and his mother Jayamma is ready to accept Hamsa as her daughter-in-law. Both families stay in the same neighbourhood in Ramamurthy Nagar.
Around 12.30 am on Wednesday, Hamsa, Arun and his mother went to the Ramamurthy Nagar police station seeking protection.
Hamsa left her house and went to Arun's house after she was beaten up by her parents.
"I finally decided to leave my house and came down to Arun's house for shelter. My parents started beating me when the topic of my relationship with Arun was being discussed," said Hamsa.
"I don't want to go back to my house and would like to stay in Arun's house itself. My parents and family members can do anything to me or Arun, so I have come down to the police station to get protection."
The police were ready to help the lovers and were also ready to get them married but Arun is underage.
Arun is ready to wait for the marriage till he is 21.
"We will be on the wrong side of the law if we get them married. The law has set the legal marriageable age at 18 for girls and 21 for boys.
Now Hamsa has left her house saying that her parents are troubling and beating her.
"We can give protection to her and ask her parents not to harm her. We will call both families and resolve the issue," said an official at the police station.
Last evening, Hamsa's parents went to Arun's house and created some problem. "I own a cab which is attached to the Oberoi hotel. Yesterday, when I reached home I got to know the whole story.
Even Hamsa's parents were there. They threatened that they would commit suicide if I got married to their daughter. I told them that if that is the case, I will not get married to her," said Arun.
Arun's mother Jayamma is also scared about her only son as Hamsa's family can harm Arun.
"Hamsa's parents have said that we could sit and talk and come to a conclusion. Hamsa is not ready to go back to her house," said Jayamma.