Three Omani nationals were arrested in the city on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in marriage with minors. A Qazi along with his assistant from the city was also arrested.
According to South Zone Police, the Omani nationals were arrested after the police nabbed Qazi Ali Abdullah Rifai, who fell into the police radar after the arrest of a Qazi last week.
During their investigation, the police found that the Qazi had built a network of personnel to scout and procure minor girls for marriage with wealthy foreign nationals.
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45 marriages
“So far we have learnt that he has officiated around 45 marriages to foreign nationals. We have to verify how many of the brides were minors,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohammed Tahzuddin.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, V. Satyanarayana said that Rifai had gone into hiding after the arrests his team made last week. Twenty people were arrested, including eight foreign nationals.
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“A chief Qazi who performs marriage of Arabs, was arrested. He had gone into hiding after the arrests last week and had also attempted to flee India.
When investigated the documents in his possession, we realised that he was in the process of facilitating a child marriage,” he said.
Following the arrest of the Qazi, the police learnt that Rifai was approached by three Omani nationals, a 60-year-old man, his son and a broker who brought the other two from Oman.
The Qazi told the police that he was approached to find a child bride for the elderly Omani.
“He was given Rs. 20,000 as advance. The Qazi had shown a few girls to the foreigners but they have rejected them. He was in the process of finding more options for the elderly Omani man,” the DCP added.
The police said they would continue cracking down on marriage of minors with more arrests, including those of parents who forced their girls into marriage.