In a serious case of alleged child marriage, the Chandigarh Police have arrested two religious preachers. The arrests were made after it was discovered that they had solemnised the wedding of a minor girl.
Two Arrests Made in Minor Marriage Rites
Police officials first took into custody a religious preacher accused of orchestrating the marriage of the underage girl. The accused was sent to judicial custody for 14 days. During the subsequent interrogation, a crucial detail emerged: the actual marriage rites were performed by a different priest.
This revelation led to the swift arrest of the second religious figure involved in conducting the ceremony. The police investigation suggests that the main accused played a key role in luring the minor girl before the marriage was solemnised.
Discrepancies in Marriage Documents Uncovered
A deeper look into the case by the authorities revealed several troubling inconsistencies. Officials found multiple discrepancies in the official marriage documents submitted for the ceremony. Adding to the suspicion, the documents completely lacked any mention of the venue where the marriage was supposed to have taken place.
This is not the first such incident reported in the city. Chandigarh police had earlier investigated a case where a similar marriage was allegedly performed inside an auto-rickshaw. The recurrence of such events has raised concerns about the enforcement of laws protecting minors.
Legal Proceedings Begin
The case has now moved to the judicial system and is being heard in court. The arrests highlight the ongoing efforts by the Chandigarh Police to crack down on illegal child marriages, which are prohibited under Indian law designed to protect children.
The police continue their investigation to uncover all facts surrounding this incident. The community has been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to underage marriages to the authorities immediately.
