If you are unmarried and dreaming of finding a beautiful bride, you need to exercise extreme caution. Across states ranging from Uttar Pradesh to Haryana and Bihar to Bengal, a notorious gang of fake brides is actively operating, showing photographs of attractive young women to arrange quick marriages and then absconding along with the entire family after fleering grooms and their relatives who arrive from other states. A chilling and sensational incident of this exact nature has surfaced from the Barwadah police station area of Dhanabad district in Jharkhand, where a gullible youth named Gullu Nat fell prey to the malicious acts of a deceptive bride named Kajal.
The Marriage Was Fixed Over Phone Calls
Shyam Nat, a resident of Bagdatray village in Rajasthan's Alwar district, had traveled to Barwadah along with his wife and brother to arrange the wedding of his son Gullu, where members of the bride's family were already waiting for them. According to the aggrieved family, a woman from the bride's side had been in constant phone contact for the past 10 days discussing the marriage of her daughter Kajal, and once all terms were finalized, the groom's side arrived in Barwadah on Monday.
Cash Transferred and Expensive Purchases Made
In lieu of finalizing the wedding alliance, Shyam Nat's family transferred 40,000 rupees via PhonePe to the bride's relatives, and the ritual of sindurdaan was duly solemnized at a designated location. Following the wedding customs, the bride's side took the groom's family to a clothing store situated on Tundi Road, where they were made to purchase garments worth 70,000 rupees alongside gold and silver jewelry worth lakhs of rupees.
Lured to a Isolated Spot and Assaulted
As soon as the shopping concluded, the behavior of the bride's family underwent a sudden change. The fraudsters tricked the groom and his relatives into accompanying them to an isolated area along the national highway, where they were subjected to severe physical assault and the groom's father Shyam had his mobile phone snatched. Following this, Kajal and the entire gang fled from the scene.
Police Investigate the Case Using Transaction Records
Following the harrowing ordeal, a terrified victimized family reached the Barwadah police station and narrated their ordeal. The victims presented purchase receipts obtained from the clothing store, bearing the store's name, as solid evidence to the police. The Barwadah police station is actively probing the matter and tracking down the accused based on these shopping bills and the statements provided by the victims.
Active Operations of Bride Snatcher Gangs in the Region
This incident has sparked widespread panic at the local level, particularly among families who travel from outside in search of matches. Investigations reveal the active presence of a 'fake bride' gang operating through an interstate network, often intimidating victims into keeping silent. According to police officials, such syndicates often perform minor rituals to win trust so that the victims believe everything is legitimate. In the Barwadah case, store bills and PhonePe transaction records are proving to be key to the ongoing investigation.
Police advise that verifying the background of the bride's side before marriage, contacting local authorities, and completing proper paperwork before any large financial transaction is essential. Groom families visiting from outside are urged to conduct ceremonies in public spaces and in the presence of reliable witnesses. Meanwhile, the victimized family awaits justice and demands swift action from law enforcement.
