With Wish To Marry Minor Boy, 25 YO Woman Forcibly Staying At His Home

A 25-year-old woman has been staying in the house of a 16-year-old boy whom she met on social media. She claims that he is her lover and wants to marry him. The woman, from Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, has been living in the minor's house for the past few days. The boy's family, who live in Shamli, has filed a complaint against her, but there has been no viable solution to the situation thus far.

According to reports, the woman has been threatening to kill herself whenever she is asked to leave the minor's house. The family, feeling helpless, reported the situation to the local police, but they were unable to resolve the matter. Subsequently, the boy's father approached the Shamli district magistrate.

Police Intervention

The father said, "My son is uneducated and doesn't work. He befriended a woman on social media and now she is staying here, threatening to commit suicide if we throw her out." The police have been trying to resolve the situation. They sent the woman to her relatives, but her family refused to accept her, saying that she brought shame upon them. As a result, the woman returned.

Station House Officer (Kairana), Virendra Kumar, said that the situation is "strange". "The woman insists on staying with the minor. She was handed over to the women's welfare wing by police, but she returned from there as well. Her parents have been summoned to the thana. If they do not take her back, she will be sent to a women's shelter home." 

While we await further updates on the case, it's important to address some crucial questions. Is it acceptable for an adult woman to plan to marry a minor? Is it appropriate for the woman to coerce the family by threatening to harm herself? Where has the sensitivity towards suicide gone? Why is it being casually used as a threat when it is a serious issue related to mental health?

Love is Blind, but Laws aren't

Love is often described as blind, allowing people to fall in love with anyone, regardless of age, gender, or status. However, there is a distinction between falling in love with someone and wanting to marry them, especially if they are a minor.

In our country, the law states that individuals cannot marry before the age of 18, with a minimum age of 21 for men. By attempting to marry a minor, not only is the woman violating the law, but she is also infringing upon the minor's rights. While everyone has the right to choose whom they marry, these rights do not allow individuals to break the law or harm others, which constitutes a crime.

It is important to consider the minor's reaction in this situation. Regardless of their response, marrying a minor cannot be justified under any circumstances.

The case teaches us that obsession, harassment, and threats in the name of love do not have a gender. In fact, any crime does not have a gender, even if it leans towards one. Instead of making assumptions based on stereotypes, we need to be more sensitive and careful when blaming or dealing with a case. The woman is not being accepted by her family,, which is problematic because if not families, then who will correct the mistakes and teach lessons to their children who lose track?

Views expressed are the author's own.