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Father kidnapped, forced to participate in minor daughter’s Nikah

Puttur: A man, who was opposed to the marriage of his 17-year-daughter, was reportedly abducted  and later forced to take part in his daughter’s ’Nikah’ on Wednesday November 14th. The marriage in question was performed at the residence of a Moulvi in the presence of a handful of people.

The kidnapped father identified as Muneer Ahmed, resident of Pandeshwar in Mangaluru informed the media that he was kidnapped to facilitate the marriage of his 17-year-old daughter living at Savanur.

"I was kidnapped as my presence is mandatory as per the tenets of my religion for my daughter’s Nikah. The marriage was solemnised in the presence of a handful of relatives at the residence of a Moulvi near Mani on Wednesday," he said.

Meanwhile the district Child Protection Unit had got information about the marriage of a minor girl at a hall in Neralakatte near Mani here.  The team had also received a copy of the invitation for the said marriage. However, when the officials went to the hall mentioned in the invitation card, preparation were underway there to hold another marriage. Thus the officials did not get any lead on the alleged marriage of a minor girl.

The kidnapping and marriage

Muneer had opposed the plan of the relatives of his first wife to marry off his first wife’s daughter to a boy from Uppinangady. He had insisted his daughter must first attain the marriageable age of 18. Hence on Wednesday, Muneer was abducted from near Pandeshwar and was directly taken to the Moulvi’s residence at Mani. He was forced to take part in the Nikah, he states.

Muneer further says that though he expressed opposition to the marriage he did not succeed in stopping the marriage as his kidnappers threatened to thrash him.

Muneer tried to contact the newly-married couple but failed, therefore he complained about the situation with union minister, Maneka Gandhi. He then received an e-mail response from the office of the minister informing Muneer that officials would meet him on Friday to collect more information on the issue.