Officials of the Department of Women and Child Development on Friday prevented the marriage of a minor girl with the help of the police. The incident occurred at Shanthi Bhavan near Shanthi College in Malavalli.
The 16-year-old girl has been sent to the State Home for Girls and the police have recorded the statements of the 21-year-old bridegroom and his parents.
According to the police, a couple from Pandithahalli arranged the marriage of their daughter with the man from Malavalli.
Anonymous letter
After being alerted by an anonymous letter, Malavalli taluk women and child welfare officer Arundhathi and other officials rushed to the venue to stop the marriage.
However, parents of the bride did not produce documents to prove their daughter's age and parents of the bridegroom forced their son to tie the mangal sutra, the police said.
Later, volunteers of non-governmental organisations, officials, and the police asked them to stop the function. They videographed the rituals too.
