BHOPAL: This was a marriage where the venue was not a temple, a wedding hall or a village ground, but a police station. The rituals were solemnised under the glare of men in khaki and villagers at Athner police station of Betul district. And the 25-year-old groom, Vinod, a resident of Hidli village, was a rape accused. The bride, a 20-year-old resident of Meda village, had accused him of sexual assault after she became pregnant.

Both are distant relatives and were into a relationship for over a year. When Vinod refused to marry her, she rushed to the police. SP Sudhir V Laad said, "The girl came to lodge a complaint of rape against Vinod. It was a case of misunderstanding, which could have ugly ramifications. Soon, residents of two villages reached the police station and both sides agreed to get them married," Laad said. The wedding was held on April 29.

"It was good for the two families and young couple. The issue was sorted out without rancour and ill feeling or the boy would have been booked for rape and sent to jail. The girl, who came to file the complaint was in love with the youth and would have also suffered," said a police official at Athner police station.

