http://www.ndtv.com/topstories/showtopstory.asp?slug=Imrana's+father-in-law+held+guilty&id=20545&category=National
Thursday, October 19, 2006 (Muzaffarnagar):
The Muzaffarnagar Sessions Court held Ali Mohammed guilty of raping his daughter-in-law Imrana. He has been sentenced to ten years in prison.
Even before her victory was proclaimed by the court, 29-year-old Imrana has won many small battles on her own.
A year ago Imrana’s father-in-law raped her while her husband was away at work. Worse followed when the village panchayat declared her marriage to her husband, Noor Ilahi illegal.
She was thrown out of the village, humiliated and separated from her husband and the Dar-ul-Uloom pitched in reiterating that her marriage was unholy. That is when Imrana decided to fight back.
She filed a rape charge against her father-in-law and went back to staying with her husband, but in her parents’ village.
Sigh of relief
Since then it was a long battle, which finally ended with the Muzzafarnagar Sessions Court’s judgment.
“I am very happy with the court’s decision. I am now looking ahead. My husband has been very supportive all throughout. Now I just want to take care of my children,” said Imrana.
For Mohammad Ali, who had the support of his whole village, it was an embarrassing moment.
“The court has found him guilty. He has been fined Rs 10,000 and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on the basis of evidence,” said Sitaram Verma, Imrana’s lawyer.
With the defence ready to file an appeal within 60 days, the curtain is yet to fall on the 16-month-old controversy.