Parents try to marry off minor; girl rescued
The social welfare department officials on Sunday broke into a marriage hall and rescued a minor girl from marrying a man who was twice her age.
The social welfare department officials on Sunday broke into a marriage hall and rescued a minor girl from marrying a man who was twice her age.
The officials receive a tip-off about an SSLC student Monisha, who was being forced into marriage with Sureshlal, 32.
Shakuntala, deputy director of Social welfare department, said: “Monisha told us that she wanted to pursue higher studies and did not want to marry now. However, her parents Usha and Manjunath—both construction workers—did not pay heed to her request and tried to forcibly push her into marriage.”
From her school records, the department found out that Monisha was only 15. “We are interrogating the parents and trying to find if the parents had taken dowry from the groom’s side,” said Shakuntala.
Now, Monisha’s parents have refused to accept her back in the family, so the department has admitted her to Balikashrama (Girl’s hostel) in Kankanady, Mangalore.
“Arrangements have been made for her to continue her education there” Shakuntala said.
A case has been filed against Monisha’s parents and the groom Sureshlal for child marriage.