Jamshedpur: Fearing jail, youth marries pregnant fiancee at police station
What's the story
On Tuesday, the officers at Kowali police station under Potka block of East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, witnessed a marriage, which they facilitated.
The peculiar case took place in Jamshedpur after a man refused to marry his long-time fiancee even after she got pregnant.
When police told him, he could either go to jail for rape or marry her, the man chose the latter option.
What happened
Shahnawaz got Bano pregnant but didn't want to marry her
Shahnawaz Gul and Gul Bano, both 27 years old were in a relationship for two years. After Bano got pregnant and pressurized Shahnawaz to marry him, he refused.
Bano's family went to Shahnawaz's with the marriage proposal, but the latter didn't entertain the plea.
The girl's family then approached police with a complaint, said Diwakar Dubey, Kowali PS officer-in-charge.
Intervention
Police told families about legal implications, including jail
The police swung to action and summoned both the families to the station. The families were explained about the legal implications of the case, like jail and other penal provisions.
"Both the parties then agreed to the marriage. We got the ceremony performed here right away, as both were adults," Dubey added.
The ceremony, in the police station, was attended by family and friends.
Ceremony
Maulvi recited nikahnama to solemnize the marriage
The friends and family members of the couple set up a tent inside the station. Maulvi Md Bashir recited nikahnama to solemnize the marriage of Shahnawaz and Bano.
Both were born in 1991 according to documents.
Haldipokhar Purbu Panchayat Mukhiya Sayyad Jabiullah; Halipokhar Paschimi Panchyat Mukhiya Sunil Munda; social worker Lakhicharan Kundu; and other senior villagers, were consulted before the ceremony.