Indian Bride and Uncle Conspire to Murder Husband After Forced Marriage in Bihar

In Bihar's Aurangabad district, India, a shocking murder case unfolded involving a 25-year-old bride named Guja Devi, her 28-year-old husband Priyanshu, and her 55-year-old uncle Jeevan Singh. Devi and Singh had maintained a secret illicit relationship for 15 years, during which time their intention to marry was opposed by their families. Despite this, Devi’s family forcibly married her off to Priyanshu two months before the murder. On June 25, after Priyanshu visited his sister and returned by train, he contacted Devi to ask for a motorcycle escort from the station. Instead, Devi informed waiting gunmen, who ambushed and fatally shot Priyanshu on his way home. The police discovered through Devi’s and Singh’s phone records that Singh had been in contact with the hired assassins. Authorities formed a special investigation team and arrested three individuals including Devi, while Singh remains at large. This incident took place just 45 days after the couple's marriage and highlights the ongoing social issue of forced arranged marriages in India, despite marriage laws advocating individual freedom. The case has stirred significant public debate around cultural norms, legal protections, and the rights of individuals in arranged marriages. Previously, a similar murder case occurred on May 23 in Indore when another bride conspired with her lover and hired killers to murder her newlywed husband during their honeymoon, further illustrating tragic consequences linked to forced marriages in the country. The case continues to develop with police efforts underway to capture Singh and judicial proceedings anticipated to address this complex scenario. Local police officials urge societal reforms to prevent such violent outcomes linked to forced marital unions.