Islampur, Feb. 4: Barred by the family of her lover from getting married, a 19-year-old girl in a North Dinajpur village turned to local police for help.

The officer-in-charge (OC) of the Chakulia police station arranged for Jani Begum’s marriage with Junaid Alam, 23, after bringing around the relatives of the two. The couple had fallen in love about two years ago.

The OC, Madhab Das, summoned the relatives to the police station yesterday morning and after day-long discussions, convinced them that there was nothing wrong in the wedding.

Both Jani and Junaid belong to Samaspur, around 45km from here, and apart from their relatives, some neighbours had also come to the police station.

However, when the relatives from both sides said they had agreed to the wedding, but at a later date, the prospective bride and groom protested.

“The couple protested saying their families might pose problems in the future and they wanted to be married right away. So, we arranged for a kaji and got them married off under the Shariat norms and the couple signed a kajinama,” said the officer-in-charge.

He said the police were happy that the matter was resolved through discussions and ended on a happy note. “We wish them well in their lives,” said Das.

Mohammad Monglu, the groom’s father, said he had objected to the wedding as Junaid had just started a business of buying and selling paddy and wanted him to get established first. “However, the past is past, I am happy that the couple who are both adults got what they desired. I will be happy to welcome my daughter-in-law to our home,” he said.

The father of the bride, Mohammad Kalu, said he had not objected to the wedding right from the start.

“I am glad that the groom’s family understood their relationship and I am also happy at the role of the police, the Almighty took care of the rest,” he said.

Bahimuddin, a villager present during yesterday’s talks at the police station, said he was relieved at the outcome. “You never know to what extent young people go these days. The people of the village who agreed to the wedding taking place are also relieved.”

The couple, however, did not have much to say. “We are happy that we have each other, we are especially thankful to the policemen who saw reason in our getting married,” they said.