Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Oct 31: A 17-year-old girl left home to live with a married youth at his home. She has not been responding to requests of her parents, nor have the police done anything to restore her to her parents. This issue became a topic of debate at the meeting organized at the taluk panchayat hall here on Friday October 30 to review implementation of family atrocities and dowry act.

The place where the girl went missing is located within Kadaba police station limits. The place she is currently living is within the limits of town police station here. After a missing complaint was lodged, Kadaba police reportedly did nothing to investigate it.

The girl who belongs to scheduled caste, hails from Punchappadi in the taluk. She has been living with a married man of her own community at Beeriga in the town. The man's first wife is no more, it is gathered. Her parents are against this relationship.

Her parents had complained to the office of Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) and the coordinating committee at local Anganwadi. CDPO, Shanti Hegde said at the meeting that the complaint was referred to Kadaba police, but they had done nothing on the issue.

Nominated member of Santwana Kendra, Zohara Nissar, noted that it would not be possible for others to force her to come back, and wanted the police to take action. Town station sub-inspector, Abdul Khader, said that policemen can act if the girl's parents make up their mind to cooperate with them. He said a complaint under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act can be filed against the youth as the girl is a minor. He also contacted Kadaba police sub-inspector over phone on the spot and then said that he was told that the girl has been entrusted back to the care of her parents now.