Four Nepali women being sent to Muscat detained at Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur, Sept 19 (ANI): Volunteers of a social service organisation and the personnel of the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell of Uttar Pradesh Police at Gorakhpur detained four Nepalese women.

Reportedly, as per the statement of the women who were taken into custody at the Gorakhpur Railway Station, they were intending to go to Muscat.

These women had entered India through the Sanauli border post.

Although all the four women had their respective passports with them, only two of them could show their endorsed visas for Muscat.

“Our team visited the railway station along with a Nepali counsellor. When she saw these women and spoke to them, they gave some wrong information, which in turn sounded fishy and made us to suspect something was amiss. When we asked them where they were heading, initially they said Oman and again changed their statement saying, New Delhi. When our counsellor asked them for their passports, some said they had it while others said they didn’t. So, we found them suspicious,” said Gyan Kumar, co-ordinator, Maanava Sewa Sansthan, Gorakhpur.

Amidst such confusing utterances by the women, the police believe that one of the women named Dilmaya was trying to send the other three to Muscat by bringing them from Nepal.

She claimed that they were going to Muscat because they had their relatives residing and working there.

“These people held us for interrogation. We asked them either to let us go to Nepal or else allow us to go to Muscat. We have our relatives there,” said Dilmaya.

A couple of months ago, police officials of Gorakhpur had detained five women who were allegedly being trafficked to Gulf countries for flesh trade.

Reportedly, a pimp was escorting these women to Mumbai from where they were to be sent to certain destinations in the Middle East. (ANI)

Smugglers using kids as ‘carriers’ on Indo-Nepal border

Kolkata, Sep. 11 (ANI): Smugglers active along the porous Indo-Nepal border are now using children, as ‘carriers’ to smuggle goods like sugar and tobacco.

Hundreds of children, in the age group of six to years, are being hired by the mafia of smugglers to carry out this illegal trade along the Sunauli check point of Uttar Pradesh.

Reportedly, the reliance on children has been so successful in smuggling that the influence of such a modus operandi is even witnessed in West Bengal.

The chosen children are paid around rupees 200 per day for running the errands.

“I travel at least 10 times in a day. I carry five kilograms of sugar in one visit and I get 200 rupees. I also study. I live in Jogiabadi,” said Akhil.

Shree Chand Gupta, President, Indo-Nepal Friendship Organisation contended that it is the poverty stricken parents who are persuading their children.

He added that this trends can turn out to be heinous in the long run if not checked at the right time.

“Today they are carrying sugar but tomorrow they can also smuggle arms and ammunitions on the other side and can work as traitors. Hence officers of both the countries should take a note of this crime as it can also cause a serious threat to the society,” said Gupta.

Physically challenged persons and aged women are also becoming soft targets for smugglers, as they don’t have any regular source of income.

Awareness campaigns in the border villages and schools can put a stop to the malpractice.

“Above all, the customs and the security personnel manning the transit points along the India-Nepal border need to pull up their socks,” Gupta points out. (ANI)

Violence erupts between Orissa’s tribal groups

Bhubneshwar, Sep. 7 (ANI): Violence has rocked Orissa’s Narayanpatna region following a clash between the two factions of the Maoist backed tribal outfit Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh (CMAS).

Involved in forcible acquisition of lands from non-tribal farmers for past three months the outfit is now ridden with violent factionalism, one belonging to Bandhugaon and other to Naraynapatna.

The activists of the Bandhugaon unit set at least a dozen tribal houses afire, accusing the owners of being supporters of the Narayanpatna unit.

Reportedly, one person has died in the fighting.

On Sunday, a group of tribals blocked the stretch between Bandhugaon and Narayanpatna, making movement impossible.

However, with the situation turning bad, the state authorities have assured intervention in the matter.

“They not running parallel, they are fighting each other to prove their superiority. The law will take its own course of action,” said Surya Narayan Patra, Revenue Minister of Orissa.

In the past three months, they had acquired around 3,000 acres of non-tribal land in both these regions and distributed it amongst the tribals.

The unrest had also prompted many non-tribals to flee the region. (ANI)

Enhancement of India, Russia trade ties

Moscow, Sep 3 (ANI): President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has expressed a desire to enhance bilateral trade ties with Russia.

While addressing a gathering of expatriate Indians and some prominent Russians during the course of her five-day visit, Patil said, the only area where India-Russia relationship is lagging is in the field of bilateral economic cooperation.

“When I look at our relationship, if there is anywhere I feel we are lagging behind, it is in the field of bilateral economic cooperation. For two economies with GDP’s of this size, economic structures that only point to our strong complementarities, close political ties, at all levels of government and strong desire of political leadership of both the sides to foster closer ties, India-Russia bilateral trade and investment ties remain much too modest,” Patil added.

Acknowledging the work done by the expatriate Indian community towards enhancing ties between both the countries, Patil said, “All of you have been working in some capacity or the other with India-Russia collaborators projects. It is your work that has provided the building blocks to the India-Russia strategic partnership.”

Reportedly, Russia is keen to double the trade with India to 10 billion dollars by 2010 and cement Indo-Russian relations despite trade with India lagging far behind Moscow’s economic ties with the European Union and China.

Russia sees India, a staunch ally of the erstwhile Soviet Union during the Cold War era, as an important partner to expand Russian influence in Asia, though Moscow and New Delhi have bickered over delays in the delivery of Russian military hardware.

Russia is aiding in the setting up of two 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors at Kudankulam as part of a deal signed in 1988. Russia agreed in 2008 to build four more reactors at the site. By Pankaj Choudhary (ANI)

Black bear killed in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 2 (ANI): In a gruesome incident, resident killed a black bear at Mandi village of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reportedly, the black bear had trespassed into a school and market place. Scores of villagers chased the bear to the nearby forest and killed it with sharp edged weapons and brutally dragged the animal through rocks.

Villagers alleged that they informed the Wild life department and forest officials about the presence of the black bear but no one came to their rescue and they were left with no other option but to kill the animal to save their lives.

Police official present at the spot made no effort to stop the villagers. (ANI)

Head constable of Chhattisgarh Police commits suicide

Kanker (Chhattisgarh), Aug 30 (ANI): A Head Constable of the Chhattisgarh Armed Police committed suicide using his AK-47 service rifle at Kanker in Chhattisgarh.

He died on Saturday evening after shooting himself on his chest.

“Manoj Tigga was deployed at the Jungle Warfare College. He was in-charge of the mess, ” said Sunil David, in-charge of the Kanker Police Station.

Reportedly, Manoj had some family and odd domestic problems, which might have led him to take the drastic step of committing suicide.

While Tigga’s body has been sent for post mortem, investigations are in progress to ascertain the cause of his death. (ANI)

Bihar flood victims allege government apathy

Kevati (Bihar), Aug 27 (ANI): Angry and anguished villagers have blamed government apathy for the flood-related havoc across Bihar.

Thousands of people have been displaced after the Misraulia dam broke in theState’s Darbhanga district inundating several villages in the region.

The water has flooded the National Highway 105 Highway, taking away tracts of road with the flow.

Villages have turned into mini islands and are cut off from the rest of the region. Floods have affected around a million people in eleven districts of the state.

Reportedly, over 100 villages are reeling under floods in Darbhanga district.

The death toll due to floods has risen to 23 in the state, with seven fresh cases being reported on Wednesday.

The villagers alleged the government has turned blind eye to their woes and want the government to provide relief to them.

“The flood water has cut away large tracts of land in Khirma. The administration is turned a blind eye towards us. A boat was provided to the villagers, which was broken and hence it sunk with 25 people onboard. Till now, there has been no help from the government. Further on, there is a bridge, which has also been washed away by the flood water. There is around five to seven feet of water on the road but there is no rescue work being carried on to save the people,” said Janki Ahmed, a flood victim.

Movement is also restricted due to the washing away of roads in the region.

Paramilitary forces have been called in to rescue stranded people, but according to some paramilitary officials, it is impossible to carry out rescue work in inundated villages.

“Our main aim is to rescue people. But villages here are cut off from the rest of the region. We conducted a survey and found that the villagers here did not want to leave their homes, instead, they want the government to provide them with relief material. It is impossible to carry out rescue operation here,” said Manoj Kumar Chwarsla, a paramilitary official.

State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is conducting an aerial survey of the flood-affected regions to assess the damage.

“I will conduct an aerial survey of the flood affected regions and hold discussions with the officials there. Instructions have already been issued to the officials there as to how to deal with the situation in the flood-affected areas. How people have to be rescued, how to provide relief material to them and all this work is being carried on by the disaster management department,” said Nitish Kumar.

The villagers are forced to remain indoors and are even facing food shortage in some areas.(ANI)

Clash after a soccer match in Kolkata, one dead

24 North Parganas (WB), Aug 24 (ANI): Clash after a soccer match killed one and injured 15 others at Rajarhat, 40 kilometres away from Kolkata.

Reportedly the defeated team attacked the winners with guns.

The mob also set ablaze a neighbouring premier resort.

“There was a local football match going on outside our property and there was some altercation between two teams. It appears that some people ran into our property and they were followed by a mob.The mob kept looking for them, they could not find them. So, there was some enragement and they put this place on fire.

The damage is limited only to the main building,” said Robertson, Director of the Vedic Village, Resort and Spa. (ANI)

Vasundhara Raje calls on Advani and Rajnath Singh in Delhi

New Delhi, Aug.22 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Saturday evening called on senior leaders Lal Krishna Advani and Rajnath Singh here at their residence to discuss the leadership issue in the State.

Just before leaving for her meeting with Advani from her Delhi-based house Scindia Villa, Raje said that she was in the national capital as per schedule to meet party leaders after the three-day Chintan Baithak (brainstorming session) of the BJP.

“I can’t understand whole of this because I respect … people in the party, the senior leaders of the party and I was always meant to come after “Chintan Baithak”, I am here… No speculation…,” Raje said.

Though Raje didn’t prefer addressing the media after any of the two meetings but she is expected to have discussed the issue of her stepping down from the position of Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly and leadership issue in her State threadbare with Advani. She had about one-hour meeting with Advani.

Also, Raje is expected to have apprised Rajnath Singh about her mindset and probably about her timing to step down from the post of the Leader of the Opposition in Rajasthan State Assembly, as directed by the BJP recently. Her meeting with Rajnath Singh lasted for about 30 minutes.

On Thursday, BJP President Rajnath Singh said he had advised Raje to step down but set no timeframe. Reportedly, BJP had asked Raje to step down due to poor performance of the party in the recent national and state assembly polls.

After a week-long drama which saw her virtually defying the BJP’s central leadership, Raje on Friday left for Delhi with scores of her supporters. Along the way, she received a rapturous welcome from her supporters, suggesting that she enjoys huge popularity in Rajasthan.

Raje has been asked to resign from the post of Leader of Opposition in the wake of the party’s dismal performance in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls.

After her defiance last week, the BJP Parliamentary Board had last Sunday endorsed the decision against her but kept no deadline for it.

In Shimla, on Friday, senior BJP leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj indirectly hinted that if Raje failed to back down, she could be removed from the party on grounds of indiscipline.

Without directly confirming plans to remove Raje, Swaraj alluded at a press conference that: “The BJP has removed the party’s state level leadership in those states where it performed poorly in the last (state and general) elections.” (ANI)

Gay couples tie knot in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, July 8(ANI): Within a week of Delhi High Court negating the ban on homosexuals, lesbians and gay sex with reference to Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, Chandigarh city witnessed two gay couples tying the nuptial knot.

The couples admitted of being in high spirits, as now they can stay together without any social stigma of police harassing them for their ‘odd sexual orientations’.

“Before the High Court’s verdict we could not meet openly. The police used to trouble us and people used to comment on us. But now we are not afraid of anything. Now I can give money to my partner and we will take up a place together,” said Joginder Singh, one the newly wed.

Hailing the Delhi High Court’s ruling, the couples said on Tuesday that they can now come out in the open and would not have to keep their relationship under wraps.

“We are very happy. We were in love, but we had to keep it secret. But after the verdict of the court, we have come out and got married,” said Sachin, another newly wed gay.

After the verdict, many from the gay community have come out in the open.

Reportedly, in Chandigarh alone, there have been almost seven gay marriages in the past few days.

“Since the decision has been taken by the court, the gay community has opened up. There have been seven gay marriages in the past six days,” said Vinod Kumar, Deputy Director of the Haryana Aids Control Society.

Earlier on July 2, the Delhi High Court had ruled that gay sex was not a crime. A two-judge bench of the court had said that consensual sex amongst adults is legal, which includes even gay sex and sex among the same sexes. (ANI)

Honour killings remain unchecked in Lahore

Lahore, July 6 (ANI): Honour killing seems to go on unchecked in Lahore as it claimed three lives in two incidents last week. It seems that it has become part and parcel of lives of Pakistanis.

On July 2, a newly married couple was killed in the name of ‘honour’ in the Barki police precincts. Ramazan shot dead Khalid and his wife Shamim, who had eloped and married without the consent of their families.

Ramazan was Shamim’s cousin and both had been engaged. The other incident took place on July 5, when a boy, Irfan, killed his uncle Shahadat Ali for marrying his mother after the death of his father in Kahna police precincts. Reportedly, Irfan considered the marriage a matter of ‘honour’.

In 10 weeks, nine people were killed in the name of ‘honour’ in the city. Among these incidents, on June 18, in Sabzazar police precincts, Iqbal killed his sister Adeeba (22) for having an alleged affair with a boy, the Daily Times reported.

The accused tried to hide the incident by shifting the body to some other city, but the police recovered the body after chasing the accused. On June 2, Nawaz of Ferozewala killed his sister Shehnaz Bibi, who was a mother of two, for having an affair with a man.

On May 26, Ahsan Elahi gunned down his wife Shazia in Liaquatabad police precincts. On April 20, Zulfiqar Khokhar of Green Town killed his sister Shahnaz (35) and niece Farah (18) for honour.

In Kahna, on April 16, a woman was killed by her in-laws in the name of ‘honour’. (ANI)

Five swine flue suspects quarantined in Dehradun

Dehradun, June 19 (ANI): Five more people on Friday were quarantined in Dehradun for showing swine flu like symptoms.

A couple and their three children, had just returned from a South Asian tour.

“We first went to Singapore, then to Malaysia and then via Thailand came to New Delhi on 17. My children complained of sore throat. So I came here for a precautionary check up. When I told the hospital authorities that I have come from aboard, then they asked us not to leave and stay in the hospital,” said J. S. Rathod, a swine flue suspects.

The doctors said they have admitted them as a precautionary measure and have sent their test reports for examination.

“They have swine flu like symptoms and we have called as precautionary measure admitted them in isolation wards in the hospital. We have informed the CMO (Chief Medical Officer). They have sent pathologists National Institute of Communicable Disease and the report is awaited by the evening, ” said K. C. S. RAWAT, chief of medical superintendent.

The total number of positive cases in the country has gone up to 44.

Earlier, the World Health Organisation had said that world was closer to a pandemic.

Reportedly, H1N1 has infected almost 30,000 people in over 70 countries including 145 fatal cases. (ANI)

Archaeologists endeavour to conserve ancient temples in Jharkhand

Maluti (Jharkhand), May 20 (ANI): Maluti, a village 55 kilometres from Dumka in Jharkhand and bordering West Bengal, is famous for centuries old 108 temples.

Today, expert archaeologists are trying to conserve the ancient village temples.

Reportedly, the village did boast of 108 temples, but presently only 72 remain.

It is said that all these temples in the village belong to the Mughal period and they are built out of terracotta stone.

No wonder, Maluti village has been a popular tourist destination, particularly those who love ancient and historical spots.

“Maluti is known for 108 temples in the village. The temples are very beautiful and made of terracotta stone. I have not seen so many Shiva temples before. I like the peace and serenity of the place,” said Subir Chatterjee, a tourist from Kolkata.

As most of the temples are dedicated to Shiva, Maluti has earned the name ‘Gupt Kashi’. The style in which these Shiva temples are built is known as Shikarshaili.

The temples don’t have any particular architectural style but constitute certain patterns and styles integrated from various regions of eastern India.

“Some of the temples have architectural style similar to Bengal and Birbhum patterns. But, by and large, the temples of Maluti have their own unique and exclusive architecture,” said Surendra Jha, a history scholar.

Out of 72 temples, 58 have Shiva as the deity while the rest 14 are variously dedicated to Vishnu and Goddesses Kali and Maulisha.

The temples also have lovely sculpted terracotta art works, depicting mythological stories of Ramayana and Krishna.

Earlier, the government of Jharkhand had taken up the task of preserving these ancient temples, but they didn’t have the proper experts.

Consequently, they were handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for proper conservation and further improvement. By Girija Shankar Ojha (ANI)

Tibetan exiles protest against Panchen Lama’s detention

New Delhi, May 17 (ANI): The Regional Tibetan Women Association (RTWA) organised a peaceful protest march here on Sunday for the detention of eleventh Panchen Lama, who they allege has been held captive by China.

The eleventh Panchen Lama, also known as Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, is said to be under detention for the past 13 years.

Holding banners and raising slogans against the Chinese government, the protestors asked China to furnish verifiable information about the young Panchen Lama.

“We appeal to the United Nations (UN) and the World Human Right Organisation (WHRO) to pressurise the Chinese leaders to confirm the whereabouts of eleventh Panchen Lama. We also appeal to our international supporters, peace loving countries, NGOs and individuals to take up our cause at all levels to ensure early restoration of human rights in Tibet,” said Rinzing Ongmu, RTWA President.

Born on April 25, 1989, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was named by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama as the eleventh Panchen Lama on 14 May, 1995, when he was aged six years.

However, three days later, on May 17, he and his parents were reportedly missing.

On May, 15, 1996, the Chinese government admitted to holding the eleventh Panchen Lama and his parents in their ‘protective custody’.

Over the years, China has provided conflicting reports about the whereabouts and well being of the Panchen Lama, ranging from rumours of his death towards the late 1999 to a set of photos that Chinese officials displayed briefly, but did not hand over to European human rights activists.

Reportedly, the photos showed the young Gedhun Choekyi Nyima playing table-tennis and writing Chinese characters on a blackboard.

In 2001, the International Campaign for Tibet obtained a new photo purporting to be of 12-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. However, nothing is known of the authenticity of the photograph.

Lately, China claimed that the Panchen Lama is attending school and leading a normal life somewhere in China, and that his whereabouts are kept undisclosed to protect him, but all requests for access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima have been repeatedly refused so far.

Tibetan Government-in-exile based at Dharamsala in India claims that the young Panchen Lama and his family continue to be political prisoners, and have called him the ‘youngest political prisoner in the world’ while a few others have named him as ‘The Stolen Child of Tibet’. (ANI)

Protests in Kashmir over atrocities against Sikhs in Pakistan

Poonch (J-K), May 15 (ANI): Hundreds of Sikh, Hindu and Muslim devotees took out a protest march in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district against the excesses of the Taliban in Pakistan and urged the international community to take note of it.

Holding placards and raising slogans against Taliban, the protesters hit the streets and blocked traffic near Gurdwara Singh Sabha.

“A protest was taken out by the members and leaders of all religious communities here against the barbaric acts of Taliban in Swat valley. All have condemned the atrocities, ” said Narendra Singh, President, Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee.

The protestors said the Indian government along with the international community should view the situation as a serious infringement on human rights by the Taliban.

Thousands of people, including many from the minority Sikh community, have fled Pakistan’s Swat Valley, as government troops battle Taliban fighters after a February peace pact to end violence in the valley collapsed.

Indian Sikhs say the government in Pakistan was doing little to protect the lives of Sikhs.

Reportedly, the Taliban outfits demolished at least 11 houses belonging to the Sikh community in the Orakzai Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan after they refused to pay ‘Jazia’.

‘Jazia’ was a tax imposed on non-Muslims for their protection that prevailed during the Mughal era. (ANI)

Suspected militants kill five persons in Manipur

Bishnupur (Manipur), May 12 (ANI): Suspected militants killed five people, all outsiders, in Manipur on Monday.
The bodies of the victims were found inside the Keibul Lamjao National Park in Bishnupur district where the security forces had conducted a flush-out operation in April.

Acting on reports that some armed persons had taken nine non-Manipuri people inside Loktak Lake area, a team of media persons and villagers conducted a search operation in the marshy area and discovered the bodies.

Reportedly, the team discovered the bodies floating on biomass.

According to the search party, out of the five victims, only one had bullet wounds, while the rest had been hacked to death by the assailants.

The incident created a panic among the residents who fled the area fearing violence.

“We heard the sound of gunshots. As we had faced such incidents before, out of fear, we decided to flee from this place to a safer area to save our lives. We had suffered a lot. When asked from where the sound of gunshots came, we were told that it came from the northern side. We also heard five to six rounds of gunshots,” said Bembem Devi, a resident.

It is believed that the assailants had abducted nine persons and brought them to the park. All nine are feared dead though the bodies of only five have been discovered so far. The search continues to flush out more bodies from the area.

Although no group has come forth to take the responsibility for the incident, the police suspects complicity of a militant group. The killings are latest in the spate of attacks on non-Manipuri residents in the state.

Earlier, five migrant labourers were killed in separate incidents between February and March in Manipur this year. These attacks have forced many labourers to flee the state. (ANI)

Hindus urge authentic portrayal of Lord Buddha in upcoming mega-film

Nevada (US), May 11 (ANI): Welcoming the recent announcement of English language international mega-film on Buddha, Hindus have urged its makers to present an authentic portrayal of his life and times.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Gautama Buddha, besides Buddhists is also revered by Hindus. Reimagining of scriptures and life of Buddha purely for mercantile greed would likely to hurt the devotees.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that they welcomed filmmakers to work on religious themes and figures, but they would recommend them to handle faith related subjects very carefully and sensitively, as cinema was a highly powerful medium.

Apparently the most expensive film ever made in Bollywood, this reportedly about 122 million dollars project, produced by Spice Enfotainment headed by industrialist B. K. Modi and directed by Filmfare Award winner Ashutosh Gowarikar (Lagaan) with a diverse cast and crew, is expected to go on the floor in May 2010 and be completed by the end of the year.

Reportedly scripted by Oscar winner David S. Ward (Sleepless in Seattle) on a book by Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, biographical “Buddha” will be shot in the foothills of Himalayas. Spiritual and temporal leader of Tibetan Buddhists His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama reportedly also has some kind of advisory role with the movie.

Founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha (roughly 568-483 BCE) is also known as Sakyamuni or Siddhartha. Buddha means Wise One or Enlightened One. For Hindus, he was ninth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu (the all-pervader). (ANI)

Anti-Taliban protests rock Delhi, Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi/Agra, May 10 (ANI): Scores of irate protesters took to streets here on Sunday against the attacks on Sikh community by Taliban in Pakistan’s Swat Valley.

Brandishing swords and chanting slogans against Taliban and Pakistan, the protesters also burnt Pakistan flags. They demanded an end to harassment of the Sikh community by Taliban.

“The harassment on the Hindus and Sikhs living inside Pakistan by Taliban should be stopped. If Pakistan does take any steps in curbing these atrocities then all the countries should come together and take action against the Pakistan Government,” said Pummy, a protester.

Meanwhile, a group of protesters burnt effigy and staged a demonstration in Agra demanding protection of Sikhs from Taliban fighters.

Thousands of people, including many from the Sikh community, have fled Pakistan’s Swat Valley while the government troops are engaged in a battle with the Taliban fighters after a February peace pact to end violence in the valley collapsed.

Indian Sikhs say the government in Pakistan was doing little to protect the lives of Sikhs.

Reportedly, Taliban outfits demolished at least 11 houses belonging to the Sikh community in the Orakzai Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan after they refused to pay “Jazia”.

“Jazia”, a religious tax was imposed on Sikhs for their protection that prevailed during the era of Mughal reign. (ANI)

Forced child marriage in Bihar

Gaya, May 5 (ANI): Personnel of Bihar Police arrested a few persons involved in the kidnapping of a young boy and conducting his marriage with a girl child by force in Gaya district.

A 15-year-old boy named Lal Babu was kidnapped on Sunday for the wedding, which was solemnised under compulsion and at gunpoint.

A student of tenth standard, Lal Babu was rounded up when he came out of his coaching centre and soon a crowd gathered at the spot.

Reportedly, the kidnappers opened fire to scare away the crowd.
Although the police nabbed Babu, they could not foil the child marriage that was conducted earlier. However, after instant investigations, the child bride was also arrested.

It was also confirmed by the police officials that both girl and boy were below the legal age of marriage, 18 and 21 years respectively.

Police arrested the girl child’s mother along with a few others, who according to primary investigations were involved in the kidnapping.

“We have arrested the girl and her mother as they had a hand in this case of kidnapping,” said Rajvansh Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Gaya.
Babu said that he was forced by the kidnappers to perform the nuptial rites at gunpoint.

“They asked me to sit for marriage. When I refused, they scared me with a gun and said that will kill me if I don’t obey. They made me perform all the rituals and including the application of vermilion at gunpoint,” said Babu.

The Indian Child Marriage (Prevention) Act terms wedding of boys less than 21 years and girls less than 18 as illegal.

The law is applicable to all communities and the parents who solemnise child marriages can be jailed upto two years.

Despite being illegal since 1929, child marriage is still rampant in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. (ANI)