Minor girl’s parents, groom booked for her wedding

Pune: A minor girl from Chandannagar was allegedly married off by her parents and relatives to a 25-year-old man on March 28 this year.

Following verification conducted last week by officials from Child Helpline, local anganwadi workers and the district Women and Child Development department, the Kharadi police on Tuesday evening registered an FIR against the groom and eight members of the girl’s family.

Police said both the groom and the girl’s parents work as daily wage labourers.

According to police, the families of the girl and the groom, who hail from different villages in the Marathwada region, held a meeting earlier this year during which the marriage was arranged. The families subsequently fixed March 28 as the wedding date, and the ceremony was held in Pune.

Last week, govt agencies received an anonymous tip-off alleging that the minor had been married off by her parents. Acting on the information, officials verified the girl’s age and confirmed that she was underage.

Police said the girl had discontinued her education and was allegedly forced into the marriage.

The case comes about a month after the Baner police prevented another child marriage. In that instance, a 16-year-old girl was scheduled to marry a 23-year-old youth, but police intervention stopped the wedding from taking place.