Minor forced into marriage with criminal, rescued; woman abandoned after ‘online love’

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A 13-year-old girl was allegedly forced into marriage with a 32-year-old man with a criminal background by her grandmother and aunt.

Acting on a tip-off, the police’s Damini squad rescued the minor at around 1 am on Thursday night. The minor, who lost her mother to cancer four years ago and was neglected by her addicted father, had been living with her elder sister in Paithan. On March 18, her grandmother and aunt brought her to the city, and the next day forcibly married her at a temple in Kachner, attempting to send her to her in-laws’ house. Sensing foul play, her sister and relatives approached police. Mukundwadi Police Station alerted the Damini squad. A team led by police sub-inspector Kanchan Miradhe traced the girl to a house in Mukundnagar and rescued her around 1 am. The girl told police she was forced into marriage around 4 pm in the presence of family members. Child protection officer Nitesh Durve issued notices to those involved to appear before the Women and Child Welfare Committee. She was medically examined at the civil hospital and shifted to a shelter home. Police said the man had earlier served 3–4 years in jail.

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Married woman abandoned after ‘online love’

In a separate case, a 24-year-old married woman from Yavatmal arrived in the city with her three-year-old daughter after developing a relationship with a man on social media. Despite her family’s efforts to persuade her to return, she came to the city, but the man cut off contact. Stranded, she stayed at the Cidco bus stand for three days. After a security guard alerted the Damini squad, a team intervened on Thursday night. The man refused responsibility when contacted. The woman was later handed over to MIDC Cidco police station after her family was informed.