Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Aug 27: The officials, on getting credible information about the fact that child marriage preparations were on in Bolantoor village near Vittal, raided the spot and stopped the concerned from going ahead with marriage preparations. This is the second time in a month that the officials rushed to stop the marriage of the girl before she attained marriageable age.

It was decided to hold the engagement ceremony for a 17-year-old girl from Bolantoor on August 23. Vittal child development project officer, Sudha Joshi, officer of the child protection unit at Mangaluru, Shivanand, Bolangoor gram panchayat development officer Pushpa, and Vittal police visited the home and collected information. They explained to the parents about the legal hurdles and evil effects of child marriage to the parents, and succeeded in stopping the function. The officials informed them that even holding engagement ceremony is a crime.

The officials also got a bond executed by the concerned, confirming that no programme connected with the girl's marriage would be performed till she turns 18.