Roorkee: In one of the first such instances of same-sex relationships in Uttarakhand, a

who has claimed to have recently married has alleged threat from their family members and demanded

. The couple claimed that they had recently conducted a court marriage and cited the Supreme Court’s ruling last year supporting same-sex marriages to demand protection from the police.

The women, aged 28 and 23 years, have been living in Malakpura locality and had been in a relationship for the past 13 years. The couple said they decided to run away from their home last week and get married.

“Both of them came to the police station a few days ago saying that they are being threatened by their family members who are against them living together. We then called their family members and asked them to sign a bond under relevant sections of the CrPC, declaring that they won’t harm the couple any more,” Manglaur police circle officer, Manoj Katyal, told TOI.

Speaking to TOI over the phone, the couple said they are prepared to face any challenge.

“We love each other very much and cannot live separately. I work as a daily wage labourer and earn Rs 300 to 400 daily, whereas my partner supports me by tailoring clothes. So, we are financially independent, but it is the society that is not letting us live peacefully,” the 28-year-old said.