Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, March 7: A 14-year-old girl from a remote village near Bengaluru was forcibly married to a 29-year-old man, an incident that came to light after a video showing her being dragged away against her will went viral on social media.
The girl, a resident of Thimmattur village in the Thottamanju hills near Hosur, had studied up to the seventh grade and lived with her family. On March 3, she was married to Madesh, a 29-year-old labourer from Kalikuttai village. The marriage was reportedly arranged by her mother, Nagamma, 29, a resident of Bengaluru.
After the wedding, the girl returned to her home in Thimmattur and expressed her unwillingness to live with Madesh. She refused to go to his house, leading to a tense situation. Determined to take her back, Madesh, along with his 38-year-old brother Mallesh, forcefully dragged her to Kalikuttai.
The disturbing act was captured on mobile phones by bystanders and quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking outrage.
Following the viral video, the All women police team from Dhenkanikot launched an investigation.
Based on a complaint filed by the girl’s grandmother, the police arrested Madesh, Mallesh, and Nagamma for their roles in the forced marriage.
The accused face up to two years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 1 lac under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, which deems marriage involving a girl below 18 years illegal and void.
The girl is now staying with her grandparents.