Officials of the Juvenile Welfare and Correctional Services and Women Development and Child Welfare Departments lodged a complaint against the family members of a Class X girl, for allegedly marrying off their minor daughter.
The girl had been missing for the last four days and the bridegroom and kin were absconding. The girl is a native of Lambadipeta, in Vijayawada, and the bridegroom is a native of Amaravati in Guntur district.
On information that the parents of a 15-year-old girl fixed ‘ muhurtam ’ with a 32-year-old man on April 21, Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) officials along with representatives of Childline, an NGO, visited the girl’s house and counselled her parents.
The girl’s family members gave in writing that they will not perform their daughter’s marriage until she completes 18 years of age. But, they shifted the girl to East Godavari district, booked a marriage function hall and made arrangements for the wedding.
Meanwhile, an official of the Integrated Child Protected Scheme, a wing working on child protection in WD&CW Department, received an SMS about the child marriage, and the girl urged them to stop it. Responding to the plea, ICPS Social Worker K. Latha Vasanta Kumari lodged a complaint with Two Town police, who reportedly failed to respond immediately.
When the Childline staff rushed to the venue in Rajahmundry, they escaped and reportedly reached Bhadrachalam in Telangana State and performed the marriage.
Speaking to The Hindu on Sunday, City Police Commissioner D. Gautam Sawang said it is the duty of the police to respond on a complaint immediately and inquire into case. He stressed the need for better coordination among various government departments to stop the menace.
“The child marriage case will be handed over to Mahila Police Station. We will take action against the accused as per law,” Mr. Sawang said.
WD&CW Krishna District Project Director (PD) K. Krishna Kumari said though the staff took bind over letter from the bride’s parents, they performed the wedlock.
“The Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) concerned is directed to book a criminal case against both the parents,” the PD said.
Two Town Circle Inspector Durga Rao said the girl’s father, B. Umamaheswara Rao, was summoned and efforts are being made to round up the remaining persons in the case.
“As the girl is a minor, the marriage is not valid as per law,” the CI said.
“Our staff counselled the family members, and when we followed the case on the next day, the girl was found missing. The Childline staff tried in vain to stop the marriage. We are contacting our Telangana counterparts in collecting evidence for the marriage, which was performed in violation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006,” said Childline Coordinator A. Ramesh.
Despite assurance to authorities, parents perform marriage of
minor girl
