Child-marriage is prohibited in India, but even now this crime still continues. But is it because the people do not care or because they have no choice? And have child marriage cases been reported? If so, how many?
The below case was registered in Amaria Police Station Pilibhit Uttar Pradesh.
Following the order of the chairperson of the child welfare committee (CWC), police on Tuesday lodged an FIR under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act in the case of a 14-year-old girl’s marriage to a 24-year-old man on November 22 this year. In the letter issued by CWC chairperson in Pilibhit, Zeenal Jahan, it is stated that the groom’s father claims to have “purchased” the bride for Rs 2 lakh. Officials said that this is the first time in Pilibhit district that an FIR has been lodged in the case of a child marriage.
Zeenal Jahan said that the matter was brought to her notice by the coordinator of child helpline, Nirvan Singh. A 14-year-old girl from Amaria subdivision was married to one Gautam, 24, at a local temple in November this year. “We found out that Gautam is Fullaiya village pradhan Mohan Lal’s son. The area comes under Amaria police station. When we made further inquiry, Mohan Lal openly claimed that he had paid Rs 2 lakh to the girl’s father, who is a poor laborer with a very small piece of agricultural land which is not sufficient to feed his family,” she said.
Jahan added, “Police have also been directed to produce the minor girl before the legal cell of the child welfare committee for her counseling.” She claimed that this is the first case of child marriage in Pilibhit that has come to her notice. “I will check with the cops to find out whether there are more such cases,” she said.
Meanwhile, Amaria police station SHO Madho Singh Visht said that in compliance with the order of the CWC chairperson on Tuesday, an FIR has been lodged against Gautam, Mohan Lal and the father of the girl under Section 11 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
When asked if they will press additional charges against the village pradhan for claiming to have purchased the girl, the SHO said that the matter is being investigated and cops will take appropriate action against the accused.
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