For Raksha Bandhan, brother helps sister escape from child marriage

A youth saved his 10-year-old sister from getting married to a man more than twice her age in Haryana’s Dharuhera in Rewari district.

The child marriage was all set to take place on Sunday evening, the day she tied rakhi to her brother Jomir Khan on Raksha Bandhan.

The brother ran out of patience after failing to convince his family against getting his little sister married. When everything seemed lost, he reported the matter to the local police to prevent the crime. For 21-year old Deepak, the wannabe groom, and his father Suresh Kumar, a day of ‘celebration and triumph’ ended straight in the lock-up on a complaint made by the brother. The father-son duo were produced before the court on Monday and remanded in judicial custody.

Talking to Deccan Herald on Tuesday, Child Marriage and Protection Officer, Rewari, Neelam Sharma, said she raided the venue only to find the minor girl all draped in wedding attire. “We were informed that the wedding had already been solemnised, which is when we took the father-son duo into custody. The girl was handed over to the brother,” she said.

Assam natives Jomir Khan, his mother and sister, have been staying in a hutment in Dharuherah for the last several years. The mother earns a living doing household chores in nearby settlements. Khan and his sister lost their father some years ago.

It was around that time that Suresh came in contact with the family. It is alleged that Suresh had been pestering Khan’s mother to ensure that his son Deepak gets married to her minor daughter. A stage came when Suresh lured the mother with money so that she agrees to the marriage. The formula worked. The minor girl was “convinced” to get married to Deepak.