Udupi: A couple, divided by religion and threatened by families, finally stood up for their love and tied the knot in Udupi Santhwana Kendra, upholding that love is the only religion.Vivek, a dalit youth from Vinayakanagar in Kumbhashi married Salma, resident of the same area on Tuesday at the Santhwana Kendra in Udupi, after eloping from their respective homes.

Despite the wedding being solemnised, the couple is now living under fear due to constant threats from Salma’s family.

The two had fallen in love two-years-ago, but with opposition from both families, Vivek had somehow managed to convince his family members, but Salma’s parents were far from being ready to get her married off to Vivek.

They had kept forth a condition that they would readily agree if Vivek embraces Islam. That was something neither Vivek, nor Salma agreed to.

With no solution at sight, the two decided to leave their homes and get married at their own terms.

“I would want to live as Salma and I would never want Vivek to leave his religion, said Salma after the two entered wedlock in simple ceremony at the Kendra.

Clad in a red saree, donning ‘sindhur’ and ‘mangalsutra’, Salma and Vivek were happy, but the fear and uncertainty lurked from their eyes.

Meanwhile, Radha Das, President of the Santhwana Kenra has urged police protection for the couple.