Rajasthan: Keen to study, Muslim teenager girl refuses to marry. Seeks police help
A 17-year student of BA second year in Laxmangrah town, Ravanna's family had fixed her 'Nikah' for June 24th - much against her wishes.
Published: 24th June 2018 06:43 AM | Last Updated: 24th June 2018 06:43 AM | A+A A-
Till a few days Ravanna Bano was just an ordinary Muslim teenager in the Alwar district of Rajasthan but one phone call from her to the local police has suddenly made her one of the most talked-about girl in her town !!
A 17-year student of BA second year in Laxmangrah town, Ravanna's family had fixed her 'Nikah' for June 24th - much against her wishes. While pre-wedding festivities and rituals were going on at her home on Thursday, she called up the local police control room and claimed that her father Akbaruddin was forcing her into marriage against her will.
Keen to complete her studies and puruse a career, Ravanna also told the police that she was a minor and sought their help to stop her marriage.
"There was a call at Alwar control room and the girl said that she was a minor and was being forcefully married off though she wants to study further. Given her pleas, a team from police station was quickly sent to her home " said Pahlad Sahay SHO of Laxmangrah.
After some resistance, the family agreed to call off the wedding and Ravanna also refused to stay with her family. "It was confusing situation for our police team as per Muslim Law a girl can be married at 16. As such, we could not treat her as a minor as per Indian IPC which says girls below 18 are minors. However because she was alleging that she was being forcefully married, we had to intervene and we presented her before the District Child Welfare Committee in Alwar and now she is being sent to a Women's Hostel in Alwar ", the SHO added furthur.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Rajasthan Women's Commission, Suman Sharma has taken cognisance of the case and asked for a detailed report from her team members.
"We are ensuring her security and if she wants to complete her studies, we will give all necessary support and assistance to this brave girl", she promises. To examine this issue in depth, the Chairperson of the Rajasthan Women's Commission has called Ravanna at Jaipur headquarters on Monday
