Minor girl escapes wedlock with divorcee

 A 17-year-old  girl  who wanted to continue her studies and become a doctor has escaped from a forced-marriage with a 35-year-old divorcee with the help of an NGO.

The girl, a resident of Karmanghat, ran away fearing for her life from parents who pressured her to marry the man twice her age. The girl is currently under the care and protection of a child helpline.

The groom, Raghavender is a divorcee from Karmanghat under Meerpet police station limits. The girl approached a child rights group Balala Hakkula Sangham requesting to save her from the marriage.  

Balala Hakkula Sangham honourary president Achyuta Rao said the case has been taken to the notice of the district child welfare committee which has to take a decision on the girl's future. Rao said incidence of child marriages is on the rise in Telangana particularly in Hyderabad. The organisation had prevented at least three dozens of such child engagements from being solemnised, he added.

In another such incident, Dornakal police have slapped Nirbhaya case against Banoth Ravi for kidnapping and marrying a minor girl from the local SC/ST colony at the Vemulawada temple on November 8. The police arrested the man and the girl has been returned to her parents.