His marriage proposal junked, man holds girl’s family hostage for hours

BETTIAH: Three members of a family in Bihar’s Bettiah town were held hostage at gunpoint on Monday by a man who they had rejected as a match for their girl but were eventually rescued, police said.

Bettiah’s superintendent of police (SP) Upendra Nath Verma said Satish Kumar entered the house of one Arun Kumar in Mahendra Colony in Bettiah carrying a firearm and six live bullets — each bullet bearing a name, including his own.

“When informed around 9 am, we sent a team of six policemen to the house, but preferred not to storm inside, keeping in mind those held captive,” Verma said.

One of the six policemen, who had entered the house, said the man was not willing to relent. “He demanded that the girl be paraded before him. Fortunately, the girl was not in the house,” said a policeman, refusing to be identified.

In the meantime, a contingent of police was stationed outside the house and a large number of locals gathered. Around 11.45 am, some policemen gained access to the house, posing as news reporters.

“Finally, the police team managed to distract his attention and overpowered him,” the SP said. Police said they have recovered a 7.65 mm pistol, six live cartridges, ropes, two bottle of petrol and a lighter from the spot.

According to police, Satish Kumar, a resident of East Champaran district, managed to gain access to the house posing as a courier boy around 6 am.

His marriage was said be called off by the family member of the girl after he failed to clear a government job examination recently.