PESHAWAR, May 26: A local court here on Saturday sent a 13-year-old girl, who was chained by her husband inside a residence, to the Women Crisis Centre whereas the accused was sent to judicial lockup.

The girl, Ramsha, told the court that she did not want to go to the residence of the accused because of his cruelty as he had chained her for the last many weeks and treated her harshly.

The court of judicial magistrate, Mohsin Ali, ordered that the girl should be kept at the crisis centre till further order by the court.

The accused man, Zareen Shah, who is at least 35 years older to the girl, claimed that the girl was his legally wedded wife and was suffering from mental ailment. He alleged that because of her mental health they had to chain her so that she could not flee the residence.

The victim had told police that she was sold to the man by her maternal uncle in return of Rs60,000 few months ago. She added that the man contracted a so-called marriage with her in which only few persons were present.

She told reporters in the court that for a month, the accused treated her well but later he chained her and was torturing her.

She said that she would only go with her father provided he assured her that she would not be sent again with the accused man.

She was recovered three days ago by the officials of Daudzai police station after they received information about the presence of a girl at a residence in chains. The girl claimed that her family belonged to Dir district.

The man has now been booked under several sections of Pakistan Penal Code including Section 366-A (procuring of minor girl for illicit intercourse), Section 375 and 376 (rape with a girl under 16), 343 and 344 (illegal confinement). —Bureau Report