SIT to probe Arab national's marriage with minor girl

A Special Investigation Team has been constituted by police to probe the case involving an Arab national marrying a minor Muslim girl who was residing in an orphanage here and divorcing her later.
Police said a list of 11 accused, including five officials of the orphanage, had been submitted before the Judicial First Class Magistrate court here.
The case relates to UAE national Jasem Mohammed Abdul Karim Abdulahmed marrying the 17 year-old girl from the orphanage in June last. He left the country in July and divorced her through 'triple talaq' over phone.
Police said they were trying to extradite Jasem, who has been named the first accused in the case. The accused, son of a UAE-Malayali couple, who had resided in India for six years, later adopted the domicile of his father, police said.

Three persons have already been arrested in connection with the case--Sulaika, the mother of Jasem, her second husband C Muneer, and Abu Shahabaz.
The accused have been charged under various sections of IPC for Rape, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, Juvenile Justice Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

Police took evidence from the girl, her family members from Malappuram and the orphanage authorities, who allegedly facilitated the marriage.
Jasem had given to the girl's family a gold chain worth six sovereigns and a mobile phone worth Rs 20,000, besides incurring the expenses for the marriage, police said.

The girl's plight came to light after she filed a complaint before the Child Welfare Committee, alleging that orphanage authorities forced her to marry the UAE national, who deserted after spending 17 days with her.
Women activists, political leaders and NGOs in Kerala had expressed outrage over the girl's plight and demanded a legislation to check the social menace of 'Arabi Kalyanam' (Arab wedding), in which minor Muslim girls are forced into marriage with Arab nationals.