Deserted minor bride reaches Ambala Cantt, sent to Bal Kunj

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, October 22

A 16-year-old girl, who belongs to Chhattisgarh and was married off to a man in Rajasthan by some women, who lured her in Bhopal a couple of months ago, reached the Ambala Cantonment railway station this morning.

The girl was found by the Railway Childline and produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). As per information, the minor had studied till Class VII and was unhappy because of the ill-treatment of her stepmother and father. Her mother had reportedly got married to some other man. She ran away from her house in Akaltara district of Chhattisgarh and reached Bhopal by a train nearly a couple of months ago. There she came in contact with three women, who got her married to Hemant Saini, a mechanic in Sikar district of Rajasthan.

Mohit Aggarwal, member of the CWC, said, “She had run away in the past too due to which she had to spent some time in children’s home. After marriage, she stayed with her husband for nearly a month and a half and managed to call on the women helpline. Following which her in-laws gave her Rs 2,500 and made her sit in a bus to Delhi. From there, she took a train and reached Ambala. The girl said the women in Bhopal had told her that they had got around 250 girls married. She was kept in a hotel for some days before her marriage.”

Mohit said, “She has a younger sister and four bothers. She used to do household chores in Rajasthan. The girl is intelligent and has been carrying all her documents. Her medical examination has been conducted. She is being sent to Bal Kunj, Chhachhrauli.”

Gurdev Singh, officiating chairperson, CWC, said, “The police have been directed to register a case and  trace the accused women. The girl has refused to go back to her parents. Her father was contacted, who refused to come here, citing poor health of his son. He father has not shown any interest in taking her back.”