Man, 35, marries six-year-old child in name of tradition

Child marriage is rampant in some parts of India till date.

However, a recent image that showed a 35-year-old man marrying a six-year-old girl in the Indian state of Rajasthan has created fresh furore over this notorious tradition.

According to the UK daily Metro, Ratan Lal Jat, 35, a counciller married the child in a secret ceremony. The wedding was arranged by a local marriage broker who dealt with such shady marriages in return for fees.

Ratan Lal Jat, if the police officials are to be believed, got married to fulfill the terms of a local tradition known as Nata Pratha. He can be allowed to have an affair with a married woman, provided he compensates financially. However, both he and his lover have to be married. Since Ratan Lal was unmarried, he decided to tie the knot with a child.

According to the deal, the child bride would remain with her family, in return for an undisclosed amount of money.

Ratan Lal has been arrested by the local police for violating the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006. The marriage broker is still at large.

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