Religious leaders to counsel feuding couples in Hyderabad's Old City

Religious leaders to counsel feuding couples in Hyderabad's Old City

HYDERABAD: In an attempt to control the problem of growing incidents of dowry harassment in the Old City, the police have decided to organize an awareness campaign involving Muslim religious leaders.

Tarun Joshi, the deputy commissioner of police (South Zone), said subjects like the status of dowry in Sharia (Islamic law), domestic violence, rights and duties of husbands and wives would be discussed at the awareness session with the public. The discussions will take place at Sana Function Hall near Charminar on June 22.

"The police, especially in the South Zone, are witnessing several complaints every day pertaining to domestic violence leading to marital discords. Such issues can be sorted out through counselling. But most of them are taking the route to police and courts where they end up in divorces," said Joshi. The police want to suggest counselling as the main course to resolve problems of the feuding couples, he added.

Since January the South Zone women police station alone has registered 129 dowry harassment cases. More such cases have been reported in other police stations in the zone. While exercising caution in handling dowry harassment complaints, the police have been insisting that the couples attend counselling sessions. But alleging negligence on the part of police in registration of 498 (A) cases, the complainants (women) are approaching courts and filing private complaints, forcing the police to issue FIRs.

The awareness campaign will include the speeches of Maulana Omar Zainulabideen, Maulana Ziuddin Naqshbandi and Maulana Ehsan Al-Hamoomi. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Religious-leaders-to-counsel-feuding-couples-in-Hyderabads-Old-City/articleshow/20657935.cms