Maneka seeks Sushma’s help to rescue minor girl married to Arab national

A complaint was filed by the girl’s mother after the teen alleged she was being physically abused.

Union minister Maneka Gandhi on Thursday said she would request external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to rescue a 16-year-old girl, who has been married to an Omani sheikh in his sixties reportedly for Rs 5 lakh.

The 65-year-old Arab national had married the teenager in 2016. The girl, who told her mother she wanted to return to India, claims she is being physically tortured by her husband. (HT Photo)

Gandhi took to Twitter to respond to media reports on the incident, which she termed as “deeply disturbing”.

“Have asked the Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, to investigate the case and identify the persons who forced this illegal marriage,” she tweeted.

“I would request @SushmaSwaraj to intervene and bring the girl back to India from Oman,” the minister wrote on the microblogging site.

She also asked the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to contact the family members of the girl.

According to media reports, the Class 8 student was married to a 65-year-old sheikh, Ahmed, from Oman three months ago for Rs 5 lakh.

The girl’s parents had on Wednesday filled a complaint with the police, alleging that her aunt facilitated the illegal marriage for money.