An 11-year-old Muslim girl in West Bengal who was married off forcibly has lodged a police complaint leading to the arrest of her mother and the priest who officiated the wedding.
Little Bilkish was married off by her mother Mayna Bibi against her wishes to 25-year-old Tufan Sheikh of the same Mahammadpur village in Murshidabad district nearly a month ago.
Tufan, who works as a daily labourer in Lucknow, wanted to take Bilkish with him to his place.
Unhappy with the marriage and fearing that her studies would come to an abrupt end, the Class 4 girl on Wednesday picked up courage and went to a police station with her friend during lunch break.
There she lodged a complaint against her mother and others leading to the arrest of Mayna Bibi and Kazi Marzem, the priest who officiated her marriage.
"Parents marrying off their children below the age of 18 should be hanged," Bilkish said."I have always told my mother that I want to study and be a teacher some day. But she refused to listen and forced me into this marriage," Bilkish said.
Police are on the lookout for the girl's husband, mother-in-law, the marriage registrar and witnesses to the marriage.
Mirza Mainuddin, the head master of Bilkish's school, was proud of what his student did and said people involved in the marriage of a minor should be given exemplary punishment. Bravo Bilkish!
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