Three arrested for teen’s ‘marriage’ to UAE national

Three people were arrested on Wednesday for being party to a “marriage” of a teenager to a UAE national, who deserted her and returned to his country in less than a fortnight.

The arrested include the UAE national’s mother – a local Muslim woman living in the district, her second husband and a cousin of the 17-year-old girl. They have been charged under sections of the Juvenile Justice Act and also for abetting an unlawful marriage.

Police also took a statement from the girl, who said she was misled into the marriage.

State Human Rights Commission member K.E. Gangadharan, who met up the victim Tuesday, had directed the director general of police and the state social welfare board to conduct a probe.

The Class 12 girl alleged that she “married” the UAE national on June 13 in Kozhikode district under pressure from a ‘Yateem Khana (Muslim orphanage)’ that helped in her upbringing after her father’s death.

After their marriage, they spent time in resorts in and around this district but her “husband” then suddenly left the country, the girl alleged.

Meanwhile the chairman of the Orphanage Control Board P.C.Ibrahim told reporters Wednesday that a show cause notice has been served on the orphanage in question on why action should not be taken against them.

“It has come to notice that the marriage was not done according to norms. We have given them a week’s time to reply to our notice and after hearing from them, the law will take its course,” he said.

Police investigations revealed that the UAE national’s father was also an Arab but his mother was a local woman, who lives in the district.

More people are expected to be booked in the coming days, said police.

-IANS