A tragic event took place in Delhi, in which a 15-year-old Muslim girl was reportedly forced into marriage and meted out brutal torture by her "husband" and in-laws.
According to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), which received the complaint from the teen, the victim got married in February this year in the Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh state. When she became pregnant, her in-laws reportedly tried to abort the baby, but something went wrong.
The DCW has sent a notice to the Delhi police, seeking a detailed report on the matter by December 22.
According to the girl, her husband used to beat her with a hot griddle and give her electric shocks regularly. The man's family later got rid of the girl, forcing her to stay at her parental home in Delhi.
DCW chief Swati Maliwal issued a notice and sought a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) along with details of the arrests made.
"The girl has been subjected to brutality by her husband and in-laws. I know that Muslim personal law allows for the marriage of girls above the age of 15 years. I, however, believe that this is archaic, medieval and barbaric, and the law of the land, i.e. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO), should apply in such cases," Paliwal told reporters.
The crime under the POSCO Act is considered a non-bailable offence.