Police lodge FIR, arrest bridegroom, his father

Awantipora: A bridegroom from Kandizal village in Awantipora area of south Kashmir didn’t show up at the bride’s house on the marriage day, leaving the family distraught.
Kashmir Reader talked to the victim’s family at Kandizal and learnt that Shazia Akhter, daughter of Mohammad Ramzan Dar had signed a marriage contract with a boy, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, her next-door neighbour, four years ago.
Mohammad Ramzan said that the wedding of her daughter was supposed to happen on September 16, 2023. “We waited until late in the evening for the groom to arrive, only to find out that he had disappeared from his home. Now, our appeal is for justice for our daughter, and to prevent such incidents from happening to any other girl in the future. Our plea is for justice for us,” he said.
The head of a local Waqf Committee Mohammad Shafi said that Ramzan has seven daughters. He demanded justice for him.
“We were here, waiting for the groom; it was 7 o’clock, the time for the groom’s wedding procession, but the groom didn’t arrive. I personally went to the groom’s house and asked them why the groom was late and what the reason was. The groom’s family informed me that the groom had been missing since midnight, and we had been waiting until 10 o’clock at night, but the groom didn’t show up. Now, we are appealing for justice for this girl, ” he said.
Police Awantipora has taken cognisance of the matter by registering a case against the groom and his father and both have been arrested.
Police officials said they arrested the groom and his father after receiving a complaint from Shazia Akhter. The complaint detailed that her wedding reception, scheduled for September 16, 2023, with Fayaz Ahmad Dar, had been abruptly cancelled by the groom’s side.
Allegedly, the groom had run away, refusing to attend the reception, thereby denying the previously performed Nikah.
The police registered a case (FIR number 182/2023) under IPC Sections 420 and 498(A) at police station Awantipora against Fayaz Ahmad Dar and his father, Mohammad Shahban Dar, both residents of Kandizal Awantipora. Both individuals have been apprehended in connection with the case, as per the police statement.
Meanwhile, a team from the Social Welfare Department Pulwama visited the residence of the bride at Kandizal and family members of the Awantipora on Tuesday.
“One Stop Centre office of the Social Welfare Department Pulwama came to know about the shocking incident of the Kandizal area of Awantipora through social media whereby a groom namely Fayaz Ahmad skipped his wedding on 16 September,” the team said.
Immediately on the directions of District Social Welfare Officer Pulwama Azhar Amin, the team of One Stop Centre and District Hub for Women Empowerment visited the home of the bride to provide her support and assistance.
Adv Mursaleen Gul from One Stop Centre Pulwama said that their team ensured speedy justice to the case. She said it is the objective of their department to ensure the safety and security of women affected by any kind of abuse.

BILAL HABIB