Minor married to 77-year-old Omani is 'happy', claim authorities
The Indian Embassy in Muscat recently said they won't be able to bring back 16-year-old Hyderabadi girl sold to 77-year-old Omani man, on the pretext of marriage, as officials informed she was happy. On getting flak, the Embassy later tweeted they would try to speak to the minor. The girl was married to the Oman national last year in May at Jalpally guest house.
Here's what Indian Embassy in Oman tweeted
Twitter users unhappy with Indian Embassy's response, quite obviously
On the Indian Embassy's tweet, many netizens expressed their displeasure, saying how could this marriage be legal, considering she is a minor. A user Sowmith wrote: Husband who is elder than father. I think she doesn't even know the meaning of marriage (sic). Another one wrote: How a written statement can be taken for granted as an evidence for the child being happy? (sic)
Minor's mother claimed husband took Rs. 5L from Sheikh
The case gained attention last year when the girl's mother had lodged a police complaint against her husband Sikander. She alleged the marriage happened at a hotel with the help of Sikander's sister, Ghousia. Oman Sheikh Ahmed reportedly paid Rs. 5 lakh to the father. "I didn't want my daughter to get married. Now she doesn't want to stay there," the mother Saiyeeda Shaikh had said.
Initially, police believed father and mother fought over sharing money
However, the mother's story was unable to convince the police. They had said daughter stayed at her aunt's house for three months, and it was impossible that Saiyeeda was unaware about the wedding. They believed an altercation with her husband over money sharing would have resulted in the police complaint. Further, Falaknuma ACP Syed Fiyaz revealed parents weren't showing willingness to bring their daughter back.
Despite police's action, girl refused to come home?
The girl flew to Oman days after the 'marriage' as her 'husband' sent her a visa. According to Indian law, the marriage is void. Achyuta Rao, a child-rights-activist, said she should be brought back home as the girl is not of age to give legal consent. But the girl's reluctance to return home, despite the police writing letters, had created problems for the police.
Is this the first case? Unfortunately not
An investigation unearthed a human trafficking racket that preyed on poor girls. The Hyderabad police rescued 12 underaged girls and arrested 20 accused including five Omanis and three Qataris. Middlemen lured poor girls into the racket with the promise of luxurious life in the Gulf.
In this case, here's what activists want
Achyuta Rao said the Omani national should be arrested for raping, kidnapping, and human trafficking and be tried under IPC's relevant sections. He said if the relationship was consummated, POCSO charges should also be slapped. Speaking on the girl's reluctance to return, Rao said she must be fearing social ostracization. Despite the complications, he said the Indian officials should work for the girl's repatriation.
