Last-Minute Rescue Averts Child Marriage in Singrauli
An anonymous letter delivered to the police office in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli district led to the dramatic rescue of a 13-year-old Class IX student who was allegedly being forced to marry a groom originally engaged to her elder sister, who had eloped just days before the wedding. The intervention came only hours before the groom's procession was due to arrive.
Officials said that had Singrauli SP Shiyaz KM, a young 2020-batch IPS officer recently posted to the district, not personally stepped in, the minor girl could have been taken away as the bride. "We are thankful for that anonymous tip, which helped us make a timely intervention and save the girl," said the SP.
Groom Originally Engaged to Elder Sister
According to officials, the groom had been engaged to the girl's elder sister. However, about a week before the wedding, the elder sister reportedly eloped, disrupting the family's plans. To avoid the social stigma and financial losses associated with cancelling the ceremony, family members allegedly decided to marry the younger sister to the same groom.
The arrangement might have escaped scrutiny had an anonymous informant not alerted the police. The letter, addressed to SP Shiyaz, claimed that a minor girl was being prepared for marriage on June 19.
Immediate Action and Protective Custody
The marriage was immediately called off, and the girl was taken into protective custody by the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD). She was later produced before the Child Welfare Committee along with her mother for counselling and further protection.
