Runaway couples in Haryana can finally breathe easy as the state government has said that it is the “personal’’ responsibility of district police authorities to give protection to all major persons who have eloped and have sought protection of the law. The Congress-led Haryana government, which has been soft-pedalling on the issue of honour killings so far, has surprised the Union home ministry with its response listing out a quick police response system in favour of runaway couples.
The Haryana government has urged the Centre to come out with a special legislation for protection for young runaway couples. “The peripheral players who give illegal calls for tormenting, evicting or killing the victims shall also be made liable for the main crime,” it said.
The state has also informed the home ministry that a dialogue has been opened with the “Khaps” to utilise their dispute redressal profile in taking up the matter involving land disputes and personal enmities, instead of interfering in the “lawful matrimonial matters”.
The Group of Ministers (GoM) which has been constituted to suggest changes in existing laws to crack down on honour killings, will examine the views of states before taking a view.
While the Haryana government has said that it is the obligation of the area SHO to ensure security cover is granted to protected couples while they are on the run, the district Superintendent of Police (SPs) in the state have been made personally responsible for the security of the newly-wed runaway couples.
“In cases of elopement of major persons, the couples will be facilitated to record their version before a judicial magistrate under Section 164 CrPc before they join their respective families,” it said. Even if the protected couple leaves the jurisdiction of the concerned SHO, the latter would be under obligation to convey their status to the next police station for continuing the security cover as may be required, it added.
The state government has also said that police will be free to initiate action in case there is a threat to a young couple, including by family members, of the criminal force and assault at the hands of private members.