KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - Police in eastern India have rescued a Muslim man who had been shackled in chains for a month for marrying his childhood lover against the wishes of his father and village clerics, authorities said Friday.

Raghu Amin, 21, was locked in a dingy room by his father in a village in the state of West Bengal after he publicly announced his marriage to 18-year-old Sehnaaz Khatoon, who came from a poorer and lower class family, police said.

"He was chained throughout and even served food in this condition as punishment," said police officer Jay Biswas.

Police came to Raghu's rescue Thursday evening in Baduria village, 70 km (40 miles) north of the state capital Kolkata, after his wife lodged a complaint.

Raghu's father has been arrested on charges of wrongful confinement and police said they were looking for some village clerics who they suspected were also involved.

In India, most marriages are still arranged by parents of the bride and groom who often look for compatibility in religion, caste and class. Couples breaking from this tradition are sometimes ostracized by their families and even face violence.

© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.

I'm rather surprised it took his wife so long to step to the police. [img]smile.gif[/img]

<font color=8fbc8f>How far away are the police exactly? My experience with that part of the world would indicate the local constable at best would hold a central seat. The police, now that is something different and are usually not found close to poor and isolated villages. Walking 70 km to the capital to lodge the complaint may not be uncommon, then how long for the police to respond? Ehh, sounds approximate. I really don't think she jumped into her SUV and drove to the police station three blocks away. :D :</font>

It would have been quite hazardous to her. She got lucky in this case, in that the police acted swiftly. She most probably spent some time to make sure the police would not add her case to the current backlog of about 3 million cases by the Indian Police. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I'm surprised that it was resolved so quickly, actually. This is a country where these things happen.

Cheers.

hope the guy is marrying is worth it is all i can say. good luck for him