Madhubani, Oct. 20: A local court today allowed the maternal grandmother of the teenaged girl, who had eloped with Prashant Jha last month, to keep the minor at her Kaharwan house in Saharsa.

The woman had sought the court’s permission on learning that her granddaughter wanted to stay with her.

Chief judicial magistrate (CJM) Ashok Kumar Gupta heard the petition and accepted her plea. “The petition states that the woman wanted to take her granddaughter away with herself. She agreed to produce the girl whenever the court ordered,” the woman’s counsel, Sanjay Kumar, told The Telegraph.

Superintendent of police (Madhubani) Ranjit Kumar Mishra said: “Madhubani police have taken the girl to her grandmother’s house at Kaharwan in Saharsa district. The court has, however, not permitted us to provide security at her Saharsa home. If the girl feels the need, she can approach the police in Saharsa for security.”

The disappearance of Prashant, a resident of Arer village in Madhubani, and his girlfriend had triggered large-scale violence here. The duo fled on September 7. The girl’s father lodged an abduction case against the youth on September 11.

The discovery of a headless body, which Prashant’s parents had identified as his, sparked off violence. Some people went on the rampage and vandalised public property, torched several police stations and block offices of the district on October 12 and October 13.

Two students were killed in police firing.

Last week’s violence has cast a pall of gloom on Durga Puja celebrations in Madhubani town. The usual enthusiasm is missing at several puja pandals such as Griertion Bazaar, Bhagwati Asthan, Kotwali Chowk, Bhaura and Ganga Sagar.

Unlike previous years, the residents are scared to go pandal hopping after 7pm.