Child helpline staff, police rescue minor girl from marriage

The members of the child helpline on Thursday rescued a minor girl, who was being married off to a 36-year-old man from Tamil Nadu.  It is said, the mother had taken Rs 50,000 from the bridegroom, who was already married and a father of two.

Based on a tip-off, the helpline team, led by coordinator, and Byatarayanapura police rushed to Ambedkar Nagar in Nayandahalli and rescued the girl minutes before her marriage. The minor girl told the officials that she is a student of Class IX at a private school and that her mother forced her to discontinue studies and get married.

The victim’s mother, a domestic help, was married to a man with three children after her first husband deserted her and their five children. Unable to take care of the children, the woman decided to marry off her daughter to repay her debts, it is said.

The Childline staff have admitted the girl to a government home for girls in distress. The police detained the mother and the bridegroom, but let them off with a stern warning.