Hyderabad: Elderly non-resident Indians are marrying minor girls in the city and dumping them once they have had enough.
ACP, Falaknuma, Syed Fayaz, said, “These NRIs who are usually over 60-years-old target girls from poor families and lure them with promises of taking care of the family. After two or three months, the NRI tells the victim that he is returning to the Gulf and would call her soon.”
These NRIs give the wrong address and contact number to the victim.
The victim finds out she has been cheated only when she is unable to contact her ‘husband’.
There are believed to be several such cases, but Mr Fayaz said only one case had been reported in the last six months.
He says this could be due to the social stigma. “The cases are suppressed by the family members of the victims,” he said.
There have also been instances when these NRIs take along their minor wives with them and, on reaching their homes, make her work like a maid servant.
She is handed over to other men who sexually assault her.
“Basically she is treated as a ‘sex maid’” said Amjedullah Khan, Majlis Bachao Tehrek spokesperson.
He said at other times Gulf nationals who come to Hyderabad for medical treatment, as it is cheaper here, also scout around for a bride.
They get in touch with agents and ask them to arrange a contract marriage with young girls.
The agent who is paid heavily parades 15 to 20 girls in front of the Gulf national who selects one from them.
“Nikaah’ is performed, the minor is forced to look after the ailing Gulf national and is exploited sexually by him. After the contract ends, he leaves her and gives some amount to the family as compensation,” Mr Khan said.
“Most of the times, the money does not reach the family, as the agent takes it away, thus cheating the family and breaching the contract which was signed between the victim’s family and the Gulf nation,” said Amjedullah Khan.
