Jamshedpur : A 16-year-old girl on Tuesday sought police intervention into forcible marriage by parents at Sonari. She went over to the Sonari police station seeking police help.
The police took the minor girl into their safe custody and lodged an FIR against her parents. The police are preparing to send the girl, who was supposed to be married on December 8, to the custody of District Child Welfare Committee for counselling.
Daughter of Devendra Sahu, the minor girl is a resident of Budhram Mohalla in Sonari. The girl is eldest in three children of Sahu, who works as a supervisor in a private construction company in the city.
” I am scared of my parents now. I was not interested to get married but still my parents have fixed my marriage at Kharagpur. As I know that it was illegal to get any girl married before 18 year age, I came to the police station as I am just 16-year-old. I had no choice but to approach police,” said the girl.
” Not only this I feel ashamed to say that my parents stopped my education two years ago despite I had strong desire to continue my study. I am a bright student but my parents had different plans. And now they are set upon to get my marriage forcibly,” claimed the girl.
Moreover, when the girl’s mother arrived at the Sonari police station accompanied by other relatives and neighbours, the girl suddenly climbed on the rooftop of the two-storeyed building and threatened to commit suicide. She was later rescued by policemen.
On the other hand, the girl’s mother Rupa Devi said that her daughter’s marriage is supposed to be held on Thursday and all preparation is being done for the same.
“We are poor, and we have no other choice. The invitation cards for the marriage have already been distributed among the relatives and friends,” claimed Rupa Devi.
Officer-in-charge, Sonari police station, Amis Hussain, however, said that the matter is a case of child marriage and therefore they have decided to send the girl into the custody of District Child Welfare Committee.
“We have listened to her. We are not leaving the girl to stay along with her parents as there is danger on her life. Therefore we are sending her to the District Child Welfare Committee as early as possible,” said Hussain. He said if they would not allow the parents to take back the girl.
The officer-in-charge said presently they are registering a case under Child Marriage Act against the girl’s parents.