Friday 26 / July / 2024
Muscat: A 40-year-old Omani has been sent to 15 days of judicial custody for allegedly trying to marry a minor girl in India.
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Speaking to the Times of Oman (TOO), Rama Rao, the investigating officer of the case, said that the Omani, along with his family members had come down to Hyderabad in India so that he could marry a 16-year-old girl.
“We have arrested him and the girl has been rescued,” he said, from India on Monday.
Hyderabad’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone), V Satyanarayana said the incident took place in the Chandrayangutta area of Hyderabad city. “His family can appeal for his bail,” he told the Times of Oman. The Omani reportedly came to know about the family from a close friend who had known the family for a long time in Oman.
Further investigations into the case are on. It may be recalled that many persons have been arrested in India in the past for marrying minors.
Citizens here said some Omanis have been unfairly targeted by marriage brokers in India, who often lie about the age of the brides.
“That is the reason there are too many problems in India. So people should check the laws of the country before taking any step,” one of them said.
According to Omani law, a citizen must have the approval of the ministry to marry a foreigner. The applicant should meet the requirements set by the ministry before it approves the application. As per Indian law, the marriageable age of a girl is 18 years.
