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| 'Incest man' saved from lynchmob | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police in the Indian state of West Bengal say they have rescued from angry villagers a Muslim man who married and made his 15-year-old daughter pregnant. Afazuddin Ali, 36, is father of five children - three of them daughters. | |
| A few months ago, Ali married his eldest daughter telling his wife Sakina that Allah had ordained him to do so. | A few months ago, Ali married his eldest daughter telling his wife Sakina that Allah had ordained him to do so. |
| Not convinced by his story, his angry neighbours in Kasiajhiora village nearly lynched him for what they say is a clear case of incest. | Not convinced by his story, his angry neighbours in Kasiajhiora village nearly lynched him for what they say is a clear case of incest. |
| 'Divine sanction' | 'Divine sanction' |
| "He is a deeply religious man and will never lie in the name of Allah," Sakina told a court in the northern district of Jalpaiguri. | "He is a deeply religious man and will never lie in the name of Allah," Sakina told a court in the northern district of Jalpaiguri. |
| "I agreed to his marriage with our eldest daughter when he invoked divine sanction," she said. | "I agreed to his marriage with our eldest daughter when he invoked divine sanction," she said. |
| But this story has failed to impress the other villagers. | But this story has failed to impress the other villagers. |
| "We didn't know she was married so when we confronted his wife, she told us about the bizarre marriage six months ago," Sheikh Ramzan, a village leader at Kasiajhiora, said. | "We didn't know she was married so when we confronted his wife, she told us about the bizarre marriage six months ago," Sheikh Ramzan, a village leader at Kasiajhiora, said. |
| "We wanted to smash his head, we were so angry." | "We wanted to smash his head, we were so angry." |
| When the angry mob attacked Ali on Sunday, a police team went to the village and rescued Ali and his wife. | When the angry mob attacked Ali on Sunday, a police team went to the village and rescued Ali and his wife. |
| The couple were produced before a magistrate in Jalpaiguri on Monday. | The couple were produced before a magistrate in Jalpaiguri on Monday. |
| But as the lower court has no criminal jurisdiction, Ali and his wife were released. | But as the lower court has no criminal jurisdiction, Ali and his wife were released. |
| "The police have not lodged any specific charge against Afazuddin (Ali) and my court has no jurisdiction over criminal matters, so what can I do," sub-divisional officer Atanu Roy said. | "The police have not lodged any specific charge against Afazuddin (Ali) and my court has no jurisdiction over criminal matters, so what can I do," sub-divisional officer Atanu Roy said. |
| Angry villagers say that is not good enough. | Angry villagers say that is not good enough. |
| "The girl is a minor, so at the very least her father should face criminal charges for marrying a minor," villager Sheikh Ramzan said. | "The girl is a minor, so at the very least her father should face criminal charges for marrying a minor," villager Sheikh Ramzan said. |
| Ali and his wife have not returned home because they fear a fresh attack from angry villagers. | Ali and his wife have not returned home because they fear a fresh attack from angry villagers. |
| They are staying in Jalpaiguri town at the moment. | They are staying in Jalpaiguri town at the moment. |