RAHIM YAR KHAN: A Hindu girl allegedly kidnapped by unknown persons a few days ago was handed over to her parents through a court on Thursday.

Pooja Devi, 12, a resident of Rehmat Colony, went missing from outside her house a day before Eid. Her parents tried their best to find a clue to the missing daughter but failed and approached police.

Officials at the B-Division police told the family that Pooja had been sent to Darul Amaan but declined to share any details. Later, Pooja’s father took up the matter with Hindu elder Guru Sukh Dev Jee who, with the help of activists Nosheen Mirza and Farhan Aamir, filed an application in court.

On Thursday, civil judge Khurram Sohail ordered handover of the girl to parents.

Police spokesperson Saif Ali Wains claimed that Pooja had eloped with a Muslim boy with whom she wanted to marry.

Police informed the matter to the area magistrate who ordered to shift the girl to Darul Aman where she spent five days.

Farhan Aamir said that under the Punjab Marriage Restraint Act, any adult who marries a child defined as a boy under 18 years and a girl under 16 years of age can be punished with imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of Rs50,000. The same punishment will apply to a Nikah registrar who solemnises or conducts a marriage between two children, or a marriage of an adult with a child.

He said a child (girl) had been saved from early marriage and declared it success of rule of law.

District Bar Association President Basharat Hundal said the minorities were an important part of country’s population and the law would protect them. He said the DPO should intervene and ensure arrest of the kidnappers.

DPO Akhtar Farooq told Dawn that police had unconfirmed information that a District Peace Committee member was involved in the case of Pooja Devi.

He said the member would be expelled from the committee if found guilty of a nefarious role.

He said police would quizz the family of Devi to ascertain the reasons of her disappearance and how she reached the police station alone. He said he had sought report from the city police and the suspect would be put on fourth schedule.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2022