A 16-year-old girl, who was wedded to an 18-year-old boy, was counselled and sent back to her home on Sunday. The minors had eloped and married on Thursday. The girl had resided in the boy’s house soon after the wedding. “To cover up the elopement of the couple, the parents arranged a remarriage in the presence of villagers on Sunday,” Madukkarai Tahsildar V. Sakthivel told The Hindu .
The incident came to light when a villager grew suspicious over the sudden arrangements made for the marriage of the girl on Sunday and informed District Collector Archana Patnaik. On her direction, the Tahsildar went to the boy’s house to enquire about the incident.
On confirming that the child remarriage had taken place on Sunday, District Social Welfare Officer R. Ambika had sent a team to rescue the girl. “There was initial difficulty in confirming the marriage as the girl’s thaali was removed before the official reached the place. The girl, a Class XI student, was earlier living with her father, a daily wager, and grandmother. The boy had completed Class X in the same school,” the Tahsildar said.
Mr. Sakthivel said that the two minors, who knew each other for two years, chose to elope after their parents asked them to wait till they attained the marriageable age. The girl was counselled by C. Puvaneswari from the District Child Protection Office and sent home along with her father.
The parents admitted to their mistake of arranging the child marriage and promised not to reunite the minor couple till the girl and boy turned 18 and 21 years, respectively.
Ms. Ambika said the boy and his parents were asked to report to the District Social Welfare Officer on Monday for an enquiry. “We have not lodged a complaint with the police. Further course of action would be initiated after the enquiry,” she added.
