Naresh Prajapati of Dholka — around an hour's drive from the city - is perhaps the latest victim of a social problem that is a repercussion of female foeticide in his community. Within four days of his marriage he got the shock of his life when his bride ran away with all his valuables. As the revelations started pouring in, it became evident that his marriage was part of a scam by an organised gang.
On October 17, Prajapati, 26, married one Hiral Parmar, 20, a resident of Anand. The match was by fixed by people identified as Raju and Rama Makwana and one Nikunj from Rajkot. According to Prajapati, he was approached by one Samji with a marriage proposal. Prajapati agreed and he paid Rs61,000 to marry Hiral.
According to cops, four days after the marriage, Hiral said that she had to visit her ancestral house in Anand to offer pooja on October 21. She asked Prajapati for his car's key and left. However, Prajapati who had sensed some problem sent his friend to drive the car for her. On the way Hiral along with others from the gang tricked Prjapati's friend and made away with the car. After the information went to Dholka police the trio was intercepted by Bagodara police officials.
"In my community (Prajapati) the ratio of girls to boys has declined to 6:10. There are people aged between 30 and 50 who are not married. Marrying within my community is an ordeal as only rich people with huge property can afford it," said Prajapati who has only passed his class VIII exams and is a tailor by profession.
Head constable of Dholka police Ramanbhai also said that because of lesser girls in the Prajapati community people are being fleeced by such gangs. Raju Makwana is the prime accused in the case and has been identified as leader of the arrested gang.
