35-year-old Ratan Lal Jat, a member of the Gangrar village council in Rajasthan West India, is now in police custody.
His arrest came after a disturbing photo of him marrying a 6-year-old girl at a local temple on June 23rd in front of five witnesses became viral on social media. Police believe one of the witnesses was Jamuni Bai, a man known in the area for arranging child marriages for money.
Jat married the child so that he could fulfill the requirements of an Indian custom called Nata Pratha. This custom would make him legally married and allowed to have an affair with a married woman to provide financial compensation. The child’s family was apparently paid for the wedding and she will continue to live with her family.
Ratan Lal Jat was arrested under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006. Despite capturing the suspect, police say Jamuni Bai is at large and that a search for all witnesses present for the wedding is underway.
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