A minor girl who became a victim of child marriage has committed suicide at her in-laws’ house at Salaguda in Odisha’s Kandhamal district.
A student of Class XII, the victim ended her life on Monday by hanging herself with a sari.
The girl’s marriage was initially scheduled for March 3 at Purunanuagaon village, but was stopped at the last minute by the administration and the police.
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“At that time, the parents of the girl and the boy promised not to go ahead with the marriage till the girl became a major and wished to get married. But ten days ago, the parents of the girl clandestinely sent her to the boy’s home,” said Kandhamal District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Rashmita Karan.
“Our initial enquiry has revealed that the mother and brother of the victim were mentally torturing her after the marriage was stopped because of her opposition. They had also not allowed the victim to appear for her Class XII board examination this year,” said Ms. Karan.
After her child marriage attempt was stopped, the administration had promised her family to provide support and sponsorship for her higher education. Her parents did not permit her to avail of it.
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On April 15, the boy she was to get married to had reached her village to attend a funeral ceremony. The parents of the girl forcefully sent her along with the boy to his home in Salaguda.
Extreme stress
It is suspected that at the boy’s home, the victim suffered extreme mental stress and depression because of which she took the drastic decision.