Child protection team foils marriage of 14-yr-old girl in Etawah village

Kanpur: A child protection team on Sunday stopped the marriage of a 14-year-old class 8 girl in a village under the Chaubiya police station area of Etawah after receiving information on Child Helpline 1098. The team reached the spot and rescued the girl just before the wedding procession arrived, halting the event even though all preparations had been complete.Officials said the village had a wedding ceremony, with traditional rituals being observed. Preparations were complete for the wedding procession to arrive late in the evening.It was reported that the 14-year-old girl was being married to a 25-year-old man from the Saifai area, who was already married and is also the father of a child.After the complaint was received on Child Helpline 1098, the child protection department acted and a team comprising child protection officer Sohan Gupta, district coordinator Keerti Gupta, case worker Arpit, AHTU inspector in-charge Prem Chand Yadav reached the spot. SHO Chaubiya Mahendra Singh sent sub-inspector Mansingh with the team.On reaching the village, the joint team stopped the wedding rituals and rescued the girl. She was taken to the district headquarters, where her medical examination is being conducted. The officials said she will subsequently be produced before the Child Welfare Committee, and further legal action is also being taken.Child protection expert Prem Kumar Shakya stated that the marriage of a minor girl is completely illegal. Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, it is a serious offence and strict action can be taken against those involved.