The Allahabad High Court, conscious of a possible threat of honour killing, has directed the Kanpur police to immediately take away a woman, who had married a Hindu boy after converting to Hinduism, from the 'illegal confinement' by her parents.
Justice JJ Munir also directed the Kanpur police to house the woman, aged 22, safely at the Nari Niketan, Kanpur Nagar, until she was produced before the Court on October 12.
The Court was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the woman-Shikha @ Sheeba. As per the plea, she married a Hindu boy, Rohit Rathaur, according to Hindu rites on July 3 at the Arya Samaj Mandir, Rawatpur Gaon, Kanpur Nagar.
Shikha's father lodged an FIR against Rohit alleging the abduction of his daughter. However, Shikha, in her Section 164 statement before the Magistrate, said she had left home because she was annoyed with her mother. She wanted to marry Rohit and stay with him. No one had taken her away forcibly and Rohit had not done anything contrary to her wishes by force.
The police allegedly in connivance with family members of the woman had handed her to her father.
The plea alleged that Rohit had received calls from his wife informing him that she was being tortured by her brothers and that she may be murdered at any time. She requested Rohit to rescue her.
It was averred in the plea that it was on her instructions, received over the telephone, that Rohit had filed the habeas corpus petition.
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