Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 26: In a swift operation, officials of women and child welfare department, in association with the local gram panchayat, stopped the marriage of a minor girl at Kerekadu near Mulky in the taluk from happening on Sunday December 25. The officials, who were tipped off about the marriage, raided the spot and stopped the function.

The marriage of a minor girl from Karkala had been fixed to be held with a youth hailing from scheduled tribe colony in Kerekadu, Chelyaru village within Padupanambur gram panchayat in the taluk. Invitation cards had been printed and distributed. Marriage was to be held at the residence of the groom at Kerekadu.

A local social worker, who got this information, orally informed the panchayat officials as well as the department concerned. The colony where the marriage was to be held was the one in which state social welfare department minister, H Anjaneya, had stayed overnight in the past as part of his village stay programme.

During the investigation held by child protection committee and women and child welfare department in the presence of local Anganwadi worker on Saturday at the panchayat office, it transpired that the boy is 26 years old whereas the bride is just 16. On that basis, officials of women and child welfare department of Udupi district got a statement recorded by parents of the girl at Karkala rural police station. The parents were instructed not to go ahead with the marriage, and cancel the function.

Parents of the would-be groom also committed in writing not to hold this marriage function, in the presence of Mulky police station personnel, Anganwadi worker, and officials of the department, said president of Padupanambur gram panchayat.