Family opposes friendship', Bengaluru girls seek protection to live together

Madurai: Two teenage girls from Bengaluru have approached the Madurai District Legal Services Authority (MDLSA) here with a plea seeking protection from their families, who have objected to their 'friendship'.

The duo, who left their homes without informing their parents and reached the temple city a few days ago, have sought the Centre's protection to live together, MDLSA member Panneerselvam said here on Wednesday.

In their petition, the 19-year-old girls had stated that they are close friends and were studying together in a college in Bengaluru.

However, their parents were against their friendship and had warned them of dire consequences if they did not sever ties.

The girls alleged that their parents have also threatened of acid attack on them.

The petitioners who are living together here also claimed that the Constitution gave them every right to live together as friends and that nobody could "degrade their friendship or threaten them".

The girls' parents would be called for talks, the member said.