In a shocking turn of events, the Indian Embassy in Muscat has said that they could not bring back the minor girl from Hyderabad, who was sold to a 77-year-old Omani national last year, under the guise of 'marriage'.

The marriage was performed in May last year at a guest house in Jalpally, where the Omani national was staying. He returned home after the marriage and sent a visa for the girl, who later joined him in Muscat.

"The Embassy had requested concerned Omani authorities for repatriation of (the minor). They have informed that she has indicated to them in a written statement that she is happy with her husband and does not want to return to India and wishes to continue staying with her husband in Oman," the Embassy said.

This did not go down too well with many on Twitter, who questioned the Embassy's statement.

"Now how is a mere written statement on a piece of paper taken for granted as an evidence for the child being happy with a man who is almost five times her age?" one user asked, requesting the authorities to speak to her in person. 

"Husband is elder than her father and a minor who is married to him is staying happy? How is this considered as a marriage in the Indian constitution?" another user asked.

Emb had requested concerned Omani authorities for repatriation of Ms. Ruksarunnisa. They have informed that she has indicated to them in a written statement that she is happy wid her husband n does not want to return to India n wishes to continue staying with her husband in Oman

— India in Oman (Embassy of India, Muscat) (@Indemb_Muscat) June 4, 2018

After facing flak, the Embassy’s Twitter handle said, "The Embassy will try and ascertain if (the minor) is willing speak."

Emb will try and ascertain if Ms Ruksarunnisa is willing speak.

— India in Oman (Embassy of India, Muscat) (@Indemb_Muscat) June 7, 2018

Background

The case came to light in August last year, when the minor's mother lodged a complaint at the Falaknuma police station alleging that her husband, his sister, Ghousia Begum, and brother-in-law, Sikander, "sold" the girl to the Omani man for Rs 5 lakh.

Ghousia and Sikander have since been arrested by the Hyderabad police.

The mother also claimed that the girl informed her parents over the phone, that her husband was mentally and physically torturing her.

An investigation into the case had uncovered a massive nexus, with the Hyderabad police rescuing 12 underaged girls and busting a major racket with the arrest of 20 accused, including eight Arabs—five Omanis and three Qataris. 

The well-organised racket involved middlemen in Hyderabad and those based in Gulf countries, who lured poor families with the promise to pull them out of poverty.

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