India: Child Marriage Bid Foiled

A case been registered against a man who allegedly attempted to compulsorily marry off his 12-year-old daughter to a boy, also aged 12, at Chelliampalayam near here.

According to sources, the father of the girl, a Class VII student, and the father of the boy, a Class VI student of Ranganathapuram, had decided to see the marriage through. It is said the girl’s father and the boy’s father are friends and hence they were agreeable for the marriage.

Even as the arrange ments for the wedding were on, the girl had expressed herself against the proposal. She also expressed her wish to continue her studies. But she was under compulsion from her father.

Some office-bearers of the Federation of Indian Consumer Councils, who came to know about the proposal, took the girl with them and handed her over to the All Women Police Station here.

The girl, when grilled by the police, revealed that her father was compelling her to yield but she wanted to continue with her studies.

Source: Newindpress.com – 20 March 2008