Officials avert two child marriages in Shivamogga

Officials of the Department of Women and Child Welfare have averted two attempts of child marriage in Hosanagar taluk.

G. Chidanandappa, Child Development Project Officer, told The Hindu that the marriage of Raghavendra (23) from Sankur village had been arranged with a girl from Bengaluru at the Seetharamachandra Kalyana Mandir at Hosanagar. Mr. Raghavendra, who had fallen in love with a girl in the neighbourhood at Bengaluru and both families HAD agreed for their marriage.

The officials raided the marriage hall. On verification of documents, it was found that the girl was 17 years and 8 months old.

The marriage was cancelled at the behest of the officials, who also got an undertaking from parents that the marriage would be arranged after the girl attains 18 years.

In another case, Mohidden Saab, resident of Ripponpet village, had arranged for the marriage of his daughter with a 22-year-old man from Shivamogga, who was employed in Dubai. The marriage was scheduled to be held on April 13 at Nehru Nagar locality at Ripponpet.

The officials found that the girl was aged 16 years old and got the marriage cancelled.