Despite attempts to prevent it, the parents and relatives of a 16-year-old girl conducted her marriage to a 21-year-old youth at a religious mutt in Gobburwadi of Kalaburagi taluk on Tuesday, according to reports reaching the district headquarters.
The rituals were completed before the arrival of officials of the Women and Child Development Department and the police. The parents of both the bride and bridegroom have been arrested.
The police have now registered a case under the Child Marriage Prevention Act against the bridegroom, the parents of both the bride and bridegroom, relatives, and the mutt authorities for allowing the premises to be used for conducting a child marriage, and preventing government officials from discharging their duties.
Based on a tip-off received on Monday, two staff members of CHILDLINE — an organisation that helps children in distress — went to the Anantha Lingeshwar Mutt to prevent the marriage of the minor. Though the police were informed about the impending marriage, only one constable was sent to the venue. The CHILDLINE members and the constable tried to stop the marriage, but the parents and relatives confined and threatened them.
The police have taken into custody all those who performed the marriage.
The 16-year-old bride has been admitted to the Bal Mandira in Kalaburagi, while the bridegroom has been arrested.
CHILDLINE members and the constable tried to stop the marriage, but parents and relatives confined and threatened them.
