Radicalisation Of Indian Muslims -2

[Bharatvarsh]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> 75-yr-old hounds child bride in Malda
1 Oct 2007, 0207 hrs IST,Subhro Maitra,TNN

MALDA: A 14-year-old girl has become a social outcast in her village here for refusing to stay with her 75-year-old husband, who she was forcibly married to. She and her brother, who helped her escape, are being hounded by their parents and the ‘husband’.

Anaras Khatoon had filed a police complaint against parents Syed Ali and Latefun Biwi, saying that on September 26 they “woke her up at night, put a knife to her throat and married her off to a man five times older”. Her parents had to surrender in a Malda court, but got bail the same day. Then, Anaras’ nightmare worsened.

Her parents filed counter cases against her and her brother Majedur Rahman, and drove away Majedur’s wife from home. Anaras’ ‘husband’ Chand Mohammed also moved court, accusing Majedur of kidnapping her.

Now, the brother and sister are living in fear. Majedur, who has started driving a rickshaw to make ends meet, cannot afford a lawyer. And local CPM leaders — from district secretary Jiban Maitra to minister for minority welfare Abdus Sattar — have washed their hands of the matter, saying it’s a “social problem” and can be solved only by “social awakening”.

Speaking to TOI from her temporary shelter, a shabby hut on the outskirts of English Bazar, Anaras said: “I want to study and, of course, return to my home. But no one is helping me. What shall I do?”

Anaras was horrified when she learnt she was being married off to a man whose youngest child was older than her. Anaras’ father is a labourer under Chand and villagers say he took a “hefty sum” from him for the marriage. The nikah was performed by Qaji Hossain as per Muslim rituals.

The very next day, Anaras escaped Chand’s house. She went straight to a police station and lodged a complaint that her parents had kidnapped her and married her off forcibly. After a dilly-dally of a few days, Malda SP D K Mondal initiated a case against Anaras’ father, Chand and a few others, including the qazi. Then, the tide turned against her.

Hounded by her parents, she and Majedur fled their home. A few friends — Rabiul Islam, Sk Mustafa, Sk Duku, Sk Ludu and Sk Sirajul — who supported her have also been accused of abduction by Anaras’ parents.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/...how/2417638.cms<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->