Second world war lovers finally marry

A 105-year-old man and his wartime sweetheart, now 90, have finally married, amid a blaze of publicity in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The Telegraph newspaper reported that Beigh Hussain had a torrid affair with Sharja Bibi more than 60 years ago, before he saw action in Libya and Myanmar, then Burma, as a soldier in the British India army.

In 1942, Mr Hussain asked for Ms Bibi's hand but her parents rejected the proposal because she was considered too young at 27, and he already had two wives. She was married off to a younger man and a dejected Mr Hussain went back to the Jat Regiment to fight more battles.

According to reports, the pair revived their relationship after the death of their spouses. Mr Hussain said it was Ms Bibi who popped the question this time.

Although her brothers vehemently opposed their wedding plans, they got married quietly last week. Her brothers complained to the police that Mr Hussain had kidnapped their sister.

A police officer, however, dismissed the complaint, saying: 'How can a 105-year-old man abduct a woman who is 90?'