Uttar Pradesh: Police security for inter-faith couple’s court marriage in Kanpur

Kanpur police have decided to provide security to an inter-faith couple to solemnize their marriage in court under the Special Marriage Act. The development came days after a viral video showing the ‘nikah’ of a Hindu youth and a Muslim girl in the city’s Chaubeypur area triggered a furore in his family and the local community. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vijay Dhul said: “According to the youth, he had given an application in the court for solemnization of their marriage under the Special Marriage Act, but their wedding could not take place due to the strike in court on Tuesday. The couple have been given adequate security as their respective families have boycotted them.” The video of the ‘nikah’ claimed the boy, Aman, had changed his name to become Mohammad Chand. It also claimed that he married the Muslim girl by giving a ‘mehar’ (mandatory payment by the groom to the bride) of Rs 51,786. Following the marriage, the couple is said to have moved to Punjab. Police said that according to the locals, the incident was four months old when Aman had eloped with a Muslim girl in the neighborhood. According to locals, the couple earlier married as per the Hindu customs and later the youth got converted and married again following Muslim rituals.