Patna, May 23: A Muslim band-party owner married a Hindu eunuch, while adhering to all legal formalities necessary to uphold the marriage.

Mohammad Salim married Jaigopal Malakar in north Bihar’s Chapra civil court, full with litigants and lawyers on Tuesday. Two witnesses testified their marriage. It was Salim’s second marriage.

The advocate Jungbahadur Singh, who prepared the affidavit on behalf of the couple said: “Salim has married Malakar with the consent of his first wife Sanjida Khatoon and other family members.” Salim, a resident of Chapra, owns a music band where Malakar is a dancer.

“I joined Salim’s band two years ago and fell in love with him. We are living together now,” said Malakar, adding, “We have decided to live like man and wife, as god wills us to do.” Salim clarified that his marriage with Malakar will add “more charm” to his band, which is already quite popular in the region. They said that they would soon solemnise their marriage through Muslim ritual in the presence of their relatives and friends.

However, the local people of Chapra, a tradition-bound rural town, don’t approve much. “Band owners and performers are usually people with no or little morality,” said Thakur Sangram Singh, a local journalist. A senior leader of CPI(ML), which is active in the area, Umesh Singh believes the move is a calculated one that has been made to add a little sensation.