THRISSUR: For Kakkassery, Pavaratty natives, Nishamudheen,23, and Haritha, 18, being united in marriage has not been the mere fulfilment of unconditional love, but the sheer elation of having made it in the face of adversity. The couple, who had been trolled on the social media with their romance being dubbed as an instance of the so-called 'love jihad', besides the case lodged by Haritha's parents against the marriage, became man and wife on Friday at the registration office at Mullassery here. It was a recent High Court order which paved the way for the couple to tie the nuptials.
Nishamudheen was a fitness trainer at a local gym when he fell in love with Haritha, who was still in school, in 2014. As soon as Haritha's family got to know of the affair, attempts were made to sever the relationship. There were even efforts by Haritha's kin to give a communal colour to the love interest, Nishamudheen told Express.
Narrating the harrowing ordeal, Nishamudheen said he had to leave abroad in search of better prospects shortly after his relationship with Haritha became public. According to Nishamudheen , he had gone out with Haritha and one of her cousins while on a short holiday here. But after Haritha's family came to know about it, they pressured her to lodge a false case against him by threatening to harm him. A POCSO(Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) case was lodged against Nishamudheen based on the complaint and he was remanded in judicial custody.
Later, Haritha was sent abroad by her parents for completing her studies and on her return she moved in with Nishamudheen. However, the family filed a habeas corpus and the court allowed Haritha to stay with her parents with conditions. Haritha said she had also received a call from Shruthi, the inmate of the controversial yoga centre at Tripunithara, who tried to dissuade her from marrying Nishamudheen.
“We decided to go ahead with the marriage under the Special Marriage Act. Since she could not be present, Nishamudheen and the witnesses signed. A letter was submitted to the Marriage Officer stating she could sign on another date. Accordingly another day was fixed. Meanwhile, the incumbent Marriage Officer had been transferred out and the new Marriage Officer did not allow them to sign the register following the objection raised by her parents,” she said.
Following this, Haritha and Nishamudheen moved the High Court again. Haritha’s parents too filed a habeas stating she had not signed the register. Besides, they filed a writ claiming there was an attempt to take their daughter to Syria to join the ranks of the so-called Islamic State(IS). Her parents also submitted a copy of a leading daily to substantiate the charge Haritha was a victim of ‘Love Jihad’ .
“However, it was a baseless charge. There was also a campaign against us on social media.But the HC recently issued an order in their favour saying she should be allowed to sign the marriage registration certificate and police should make all necessary arrangements for the same. The court order and the marriage was the victory of their love and a major setback to those who are calling the relationship ‘love jihad,’ they said.