The Hindu : Front Page : Same-sex couple ‘separate' a day after marriage

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Sunday, Mar 28, 2010
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Same-sex couple ‘separate' a day after marriage

Iboyaima Laithangbam

IMPHAL: Sandip Soibam and Nikhil Hidangmayum, the same-sex couple who married at a public ceremony in Imphal on Thursday amidst fanfare, have separated, their parents said.

Reports said senior police officers and parents of the youths prevailed upon them to get separated, and they had agreed to live separately and remain friends.

The police summoned Nikhil and Sandip on Friday morning on the basis of complaints lodged by their family members.

Officials said the marriage was not legally tenable since all Nikhil and Sandip did was exchange rings and not marriage vows. The marriage should have been solemnised according to the Hindu Marriage Act or any acceptable convention, it was pointed out.

However, the couple's close friends maintain that the actions of the police and the parents are illegal since Nikhil and Sandip are above 18 years of age. The friends claim the couple cannot be separated easily.

Nikhil and Sandip have been together for the last six years. Their friends feel the couple's marriage should be solemnised properly and they be allowed to live as man and wife.

Sandip and Nikhil had earlier said they would adopt a child.

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