Four govt officials injured while preventing child marriage

Kendrapada: At least four govt officials were injured after close relatives of a bride and groom allegedly assaulted them on Thursday evening when they tried to stop a child marriage from taking place in Kendrapada district.Officials said they received information about a child marriage being organised at Sakhibata, considered a holy place. “When we reached the spot, wedding preparations were underway. We asked for the birth certificates of the bride and groom. Suddenly, some close relatives attacked us in a fit of rage. We have lodged an FIR at Kudanagari police station,” Saina Parida, coordinator of Child Helpline, district unit, said.Police have registered a case against several persons under relevant sections of the BNS for allegedly attacking Parida and other officials. “An investigation is underway. All accused will be arrested soon,” Jagannath Panigrahi, IIC of Kudanagari police station, said.Officials also prevented the marriage of a 16-year-old girl, daughter of a daily wage worker from a village under Kudanagari police station limits, with a 40-year-old man from Srutipur village. The groom fled the spot. “After verifying documents, we found the girl is a minor. Her father had agreed to the marriage due to acute poverty,” Silabala Chasi, CDPO, Marsaghai block, said.“As per law, marriage of a boy below 21 and a girl below 18 is an offence under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, which attracts two years of rigorous imprisonment or a fine of Rs 1 lakh, or both,” the CDPO added.“Whether driven by financial or social pressure, child marriage remains an appalling practice. They should be in school and playing with other children, not burdened with responsibilities,” Naliniprava Tarei, a social worker, said.