Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday rescued a minor girl from an attempted marriage and arrested six persons, including her parents, in Udhampur district of Jammu division.
In a statement issued to the press, the police said that on receipt of information from Sarpanch of Katwalt, Ramnagar that a minor girl was being forcibly married at Gaghote, Ramnagar with a 35-year-old man, a police team of PS Ramnagar headed by Station House Officer (SHO) Ramnagar Police Station and SDPO Ramnagar raided the place and sought proof of date of birth of the girl. The documents revealed her to be aged 13.
Police arrested all the six persons including parents, husband, in-laws and others for solemnizing marriage of a minor girl, he said, adding that in this connection, a case under FIR number 95/2020 under section 9/10/11 prohibition of Child Marriage Act was registered in the records of Police Station Ramnagar.
The arrested accused persons were identified as Daya Ram (Husband), son of Santokhu of Gagote, Raj Kumar (Father), son of Fina of Katwalt, Sushma (Mother), wife of Rajkumar of Katwalt, Santhoku (Father-in-Law of victim), son of Bhagat Ram of Gagote, Shanu (Mother-in-law of victim), wife of Santhoku of Gagote and Rattan (Pandit), son of Kiker of Gagote.
After being rescued, the girl was handed over to her maternal aunt, Shano Devi through Child Welfare Committee, Udhampur as per the girl’s request.
District Police lauded the Sarpanch for playing the role of a responsible citizen and public representative and thanked him for his support. (KNO)