Vizianagaram: Two women began an indefinite sit-in for the love of their lives in the district with the difference being the first woman is fighting to get married while the other is demanding to be taken back by her in-laws.

In the first instance, K Punyavathi and Boddu Shekhar of Tulasivalasa village in Komarada mandal were in love. He allegedly Lured her into a relationship promising marriage. However, after five years of courtship, when Punyavathi reminded him of marriage, he started avoiding her. Later, he disappeared from the village along with his family members. An agitated Punyavathi raised the issue at the village panchayat, where Shekhar promised to appear in a couple of days, but continued to avoid the panchayat. The local police refused to interfere unless a formal complaint was lodged at the station.

She began a sit-in in front of Shekhar's house on Wednesday. According to people in the neighbourhood, she sits in front of the house despite the winter weather and without any food intake. A similar incident relates to that of Durga Bhavani in Therlam mandal of Bobbili. She began a sit-in protest in front of her husband's house alleging that her in-laws are keen to get her out of the house. She was married to Kalyan Rao in 2011 and the couple have a six-year-old daughter. However, Durga Bhavani said, her in-laws and husband began harassing her and wanted to get her out of the house. "This despite having given Rs 7 lakh in dowry and marriage expenses," she said.

The issue cropped-up when the couple rented a flat and started working for a private firm. According to Durga Bhavani, one day Kalyan Rao suggested to her to go to her parent's house. In the meantime, he shifted to another rented house and also switched off his phone. Speaking to the media, she said that her in-laws began the harassment after she gave birth to a girl child and also stated that she brings bad luck to them. "They intended to get rid of me and arrange for another marriage for Kalyan," she said.

The local police arrived at the scene and assured her that they have called Kalyan Rao for counselling on Saturday. Following their assurances, Durga Bhavani called off her protest.