Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Officials from Childline and the police’s Damini squad stopped the child marriage of a 13-year-old Class V student in the Satara area on Sunday, just before the wedding rituals began.
A local resident alerted authorities after suspecting the bride was a minor. Acting swiftly, Damini squad in-charge police sub-inspector Kanchan Mirde, along with PSI Lata Jadhav, women constables and district child protection committee member Nitesh Durve, reached the venue. Guests were waiting as the bride’s makeup was underway when police intervention caused commotion. Both families have been directed to appear before the Child Welfare Committee, and a report has been registered at Satara police station.
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Poverty and addiction behind decision
The girl’s father, a labourer addicted to alcohol, had left the financial burden on her mother, who works at construction sites to support three children. Amid financial distress, a marriage proposal came from a 25-year-old relative working in a private company in Pune. Considering his employment, the mother reportedly agreed to the marriage despite the girl studying in Class V.