Police in the Telangana district of Ranga Reddy on Monday arrested a 35-year-old man for forcibly marrying a 12-year-old girl, by tempting as family function.
“We have booked a case under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Offices (POCSO) against the groom,” said Keshampet (SI) inspector Praveen Kumar, adding that the girl had been handed over to Integrated. Officials of the Child Development Organization (ICDS).
The incident happened in the village of Velicharla in Kesampet block near Shadnagar, about 50 kilometers from Hyderabad three days ago. The girl’s family hails from the village of Papireddiguda in the same area.
Praveen Kumar said the family of the child and the man hail from the Budaga Jangam community, which is an organized group of Caste and economically weak.
“The girl, who is illiterate, lodged a complaint with us this morning with the help of Anganwadi local staff and other residents. He told us that his parents took him to his cousin’s (nephew’s) home for a family reunion, where he tied the sofa knot and left, ”she said.