Bengaluru Kidnap Attempt Over Inter-Caste Marriage Ends in Crash, Six Injured; Locals Rescue Woman
THE COMMONS VOICE · BENGALURU, KARNATAKA · SEPTEMBER 17, 2026
A woman was rescued by local residents after a group of men allegedly tried to forcibly take her from her Bengaluru home over her inter-caste marriage — a chase that ended with the getaway vehicle crashing into multiple vehicles and injuring six people, including a child and a woman now in the ICU.
At A Glance
| Victim | Pooja, 21, married Om Prakash against family's wishes ~8-9 months ago |
| Injured | Six people, including a 9-year-old and a 57-year-old now in the ICU |
| Arrests | Three men arrested; alleged driver Saddam still at large |
| Disputed | Number of vehicles hit, whether husband was present, one suspect's age |
What Happened?
On Wednesday night, September 16, around 7:30–8 pm, a group of men allegedly forced their way into a home in Agrahara Dasarahalli and took 21-year-old Pooja, fleeing in a white Hyundai SUV. Pooja, originally from Melwas village in Rajasthan, had married Om Prakash — also from Melwas — roughly eight to nine months earlier, in a marriage that faced opposition because the couple belonged to different castes.
Neighbors who heard Pooja's cries gave chase. According to police, the driver, panicking as locals pursued the vehicle, crashed repeatedly while trying to escape, eventually being stopped near Vijayanagar's Hoshahalli area after residents pelted the car with stones and pulled the men out.
Who Was Hurt?
Six people were injured in the crash: Pruthviraj (12), Yashika (9), Amul (35), Mani (64), Jayalakshmi (57), and Santhosh (35). Jayalakshmi sustained head injuries and remains in the ICU in serious condition. One outlet, Public TV, reported that the vehicle struck more than 100 vehicles over the course of the chase and that over 30 people may have been affected overall, though only six formally sought treatment and were counted as injured by police.
What Triggered The Abduction Attempt?
According to police and multiple reports, Pooja's family did not approve of her marrying outside her caste. Some reporting specifies that it was Pooja's paternal aunt — not her father, who along with Om Prakash's father reportedly did not object — who arranged and paid for the abduction attempt, intending to bring Pooja back to Rajasthan.
What Happened After The Crash?
According to Siasat, locals initially beat the men after pulling them from the car, believing they were random kidnappers, until Pooja intervened and told the crowd the men were her relatives. Police said three men — Rakesh, Karan, and Ayan (also reported as Ayas) — have been arrested, while a fourth, identified as Saddam and alleged to have been driving, remains at large.
What We Couldn't Fully Reconcile
Reports disagree on a few points: whether Om Prakash was present and assaulted during the abduction (as Siasat reports) or away at work at the time (as Public TV reports); the exact number of men involved (four across most reports, five per Free Press Journal); and one accused's age, reported as either 21 or 31 depending on the outlet.
Latest Development
This is an active investigation. The Commons Voice will update this article if the absconding suspect is arrested or if police issue further clarification on the disputed details above.
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