SHE Teams of Rachakonda Commissionerate have prevented child marriages of three minor girls on Wednesday and Thursday.
On information from Dharmaram village about the marriage of a 13 years minor girl of Dharmaram village under Thurkapally mandal, Yadadri district scheduled to be held with a 19-year-old youth of Bommalaramaram on June 10. The SHE Team from Bhongir rushed to the house of the minor girl (victim) in Dharmaram and conducted counselling to the parents of both the minor girl and bridegroom and prevented child marriage. The minor girl was rescued from child marriage and the parents were bound over.
In the second incident in Mulkalpally village under Thurkapally mandal of Yadadri district, marriage of 17 years old minor girl was fixed with a 24-year old man of Singaram village of Rajapet mandal and the marriage was fixed for June 14. On a tip-off, the Bhongir SHE Team rushed to the house of minor girl at Mulkalpally village and conducted counselling to the parents of both the victim and bridegroom. After the counselling, their parents decided to perform marriage of the minor girl only after she attains 18 years age. The girl was rescued from child marriage.
Similarly, marriage of a 15-year old minor girl, who was studying VII Class of Kimiya thanda in Mulkalapalli village was fixed with a 24-year old man of Medchal and their engagement was performed on May 24 and marriage date was fixed. On receipt of information, the SHE Team rushed to the house of victim and conducted counselling to the parents of both sides.
Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat, IPS, appreciated the good work done by the Bhongir SHE Team in preventing child marriages and appealed to the public to report the child marriages to police on dial 100 or Rachakaonda whasapp control 9490617111. Priests, wedding card printers, elders and supporters of the child marriage, parents of child will be held responsible for performing child marriage as per the Child Marriages Prohibition Act, 2006. The Commissioner said Child marriage is a crime. Marriage age of girls should be 18 years and boys should be 21. Performing marriage below the stipulated age is a crime as per the act.
According to the Act, those who permits, supports, performs, helps, attends child marriage will be prosecuted according the law. The offenders will be sentenced to two years imprisonment or fine of Rs one lakh or both for their act. He appealed to the people to inform about any child marriages. As on today, 12 child marriages were prevented by the Rachakonda Police. (NSS)