RAHIM YAR KHAN – The police on Friday arrested four panchayat members over marrying off a nine-year-old girl in Vani to a 14-year-old youth in Chak 178-7R, Tehsil Liaqatpur.
The Gulshan-e-Fareed Police checkpost registered FIR no 46/2016 under Section 310 of the Pakistan Penal Code, informed Rahim Yar Khan DPO Zeeshan Asghar.
The DPO told The Nation that the four accused arrested accused are: Gammu Ram, Punnu Ram, Kastura Ram and Kalu Ram.
He said that the accused, belonging Mengwal caste, have accepted that their Panchayat first decided Rs3,00,000 and a Vani as penalty but later they decided Rs1,50,000 and a girl Vani.
Gammu Ram, a resident of Chak 178-7R, tehsil Liaqatpur had murdered his wife Bakhtoo Mai over having illicit relations on February 21. The police arrested the accused and later a minority arbitration court was held in which the nine-year-old sister of accused Gammu Ram was married off to Hari Chand, 14, son of Bakhtoo Mai’s uncle Punnu Ram. Tabbasum Shaheed police SHO Ch Yaseen said that he is investigating the matter of arbitration court and would be able to say something later. After the girl’s brother killed his wife, her family suspected a foul play. They convened a panchayat in which it was decided that the nine-year-old sister of the alleged murderer would be married as Vani to a 14-year-old cousin of the deceased wife.
Tabbasum Shaheed Police checkpost In-Charge Ilyas Ali said that as soon as they learnt about the incident, an FIR was registered and then arrested the suspects in a raid. “We also recovered the panchayati order that gave the girl as Vani in marriage to the boy,” he claimed.
He said it was possible more suspects would be arrested in the case.
