Police foil Omani’s bid to marry minor

Abdul Qayyum’s two-room tenement at Yakutpura turned into a media hub on Monday.

Journalists from various media houses, made a beeline to the otherwise ignored Pather-ka-Makaan area of the old city where the police foiled an alleged bid of a local to marry his daughter to an Arab national.

Qayyum, a father of three, had planned to marry his 17-year-old daughter to an Oman national Al Balushi Badar Yousuf, 37, who works in Muscat municipality as a gardener. Qayyum works as a driver in the city and makes Rs. 8,000 a month, an earning insufficient to feed a family of five.

So when a broker, Ayesha, brought a proposal, he fell for it. For more than the money, the father dreamt his daughter would lead a queen’s life in Oman.

On Sunday, the lane leading to his house was blocked and a tent was erected for the marriage. It was 7 p.m. when a handful of guests turned up for the marriage. The bride was ready and the groom had also arrived.

The elders were waiting for the Qazi to come and solemnise the marriage. But, surprisingly a police team arrived at the venue after being tipped off at the last minute.

The Oman national and the girl’s parents were detained.

“Yousuf promised to pay Rs. 5 lakh to the family and paid an advance of Rs.30,000 and another Rs.15,000 for marriage expenses. The brokers were paid a commission Rs.20,000 each,” DCP (South) V. Satyanarayana said.

The police arrested Yousuf and formed special teams to nab the two brokers. .

Qayyum, a driver, had planned to marry his 17-year-old daughter to Al Balushi Badar Yousuf, who works in Muscat municipality as a gardener