A male wedding guest was kidnapped from an Indian ceremony and forced to marry a woman at gunpoint as her family screamed: 'Shut up - we're only marrying you, not hanging you.'

Vinod Kumar had gone to the wedding of his friend in Nalanda district, near Patna in north east India's Bihar state when he was seized by a group of men.

The steel engineer was hauled away and 'thrashed' before guns were pointed at his head as the family of a woman he had never met forced him to marry her against his will.

A male wedding guest was kidnapped from an Indian ceremony and forced to marry a woman at gunpoint as her family screamed: 'Shut up - we're only marrying you, not hanging you'. He is pictured after being dragged away to meet his new bride

Vinod Kumar had gone to the wedding of his friend in Nalanda district, near Patna in north east India's Bihar state when he was seized by a group of men

According to Gulf News, relatives of the woman could be heard saying: 'We are only performing your wedding, not hanging you. Why are you crying loudly? Shut up.'

They wiped away his tears with their saris as the nuptials were taking place.

The ritual is known in the area as 'Pakadua Vivah' or forcible marriage and is quote common in Bihar, Gulf News reports.

They are often carried out by families who are looking for suitable grooms but cannot afford heavy dowry costs.

The steel engineer was hauled away and 'thrashed' before guns were pointed at his head as the family of a woman he had never met forced him to marry her against his will

The junior steel plant engineer said he was not cooperating because he had not had his parents' consent. Moments later a gun was held to his head.

He is quoted as saying: 'They (the girl's family) befriended me during the wedding and asked me to step out. They kidnapped me and took me to a home where I was forced to put vermillion in the hair of a girl. I had never seen her and I don't know who she is.'

Police have launched a probe into the incident, in Mokama, Patna.