Author: Subhasish Chaudhuri
Publication: The Asian Age
Date: January 28, 2008
Mayapur, Jan. 27: Sometimes a groom has to pay
a price for marrying a girl. Shafiq Ali (25) of Nakashipara in Nadia district
was made to pay Rs 20,000 for not marrying a girl. He was "detained"
for 72 hours and was "released" only after his family paid a compensation
of Rs 20,000.
On January 24, ahead of the nikaah, Shafiq refused
to tie the knot because he said that Ayesha was not the same girl who he had
agreed to marry. Ayesha's furious relatives kept Shafiq and his brother hostage
for over 72 hours with the support of local political leaders and police personnel
of Iskcon-Mayapur outpost. He was kept at the residence of a local CPI(M) leader,
Ziar-ur-Rehman who played a key role in organising a "salishi" (arbitration)
meeting with the help of Trinamul Congress leaders, Patu Sheikh and Nintu Sheikh.
The Nabadweep police didnot take any action despite a specific complaint. Even
the intervention of Nakashipara officer-in-charge, Pintu Saha whom the groom's
family initially approached, failed to help.
Sources said on January 24, Shafiq, a resident
of Beldanga in Nakashipara, came to Mayapur-Bamunpukur to marry Ayesha, a Madhyamik
examinee. However, just before the nikaah, Shafiq tried to flee. An altercation
broke out between the two families. Shafiq claimed that the bride was not the
same girl with whom his marriage was settled. He identified another girl - Papiya
Khatun - who he claimed was shown to him as Ayesha. Papiya is Ayesha's sister.
But bride's father, Hussein Sheikh rejected his claim. He tried to force Shafiq
to marry Ayesha, but he refused. The situation turned ugly and the baraatis
left. However, Shafiq and his brother were detained by the bride's family.
Shafiq's relatives informed the Nakashipara
police which immediately informed the Nabadweep police. But no action was taken
for 72 hours. Hussein Sheikh said there was no question of negotiating marriage
for Papiya, who was still a minor. But Shafiq stuck to his stand that it was
Papiya with whom his marriage was fixed.
Shafiq was released on Sunday evening after
a bond of Rs 20,000 to the bride's family. The Mayapur police did not take any
action against this "extortion". The assistant sub-inspector, Gopal
Karmakar said, the police "helped" in Shafiq's release after Rs 20,000
was paid to Hussein Sheikh.
