Indian MP: Forbid Girls from Owning Cell Phones So They Can't Elope

A country taking bold strides into the 13th century

Girls should be banned from owning mobile phones to stop them eloping, an Indian MP has said.

 His comments come amid growing fears of 'talibanisation' in parts of Northern India, where social conservatism in both Hindu and Muslim communities has been blamed for honour killings, kidnappings to enforce child marriages, and a rash of controversial fatwas and village council rulings. Earlier this month a feudal leader said child marriage should be encouraged to halt an increase in rapes.

One ruling sought to ban 'love marriages' as immoral while others tried to stop women from leaving their homes.