Boy booked for marrying minor

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 11

The Kamboh police have booked a teenage boy for marrying a minor. The girl is said to be 17 years old. Her parents have lodged their complaint with the police under the Child Marriage Act 2006.

The girl was a student of Class XI at a government school in the city. After solemnising their marriage, they took security from the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC), claiming that there was a threat to their lives. The accused has been identified as Surjit Singh of Mahal village.

Jeevan Singh, father of the girl, said the girl was minor as she was 17. On January 1, she went out but did not return. Later, he came to know that the accused had taken her away for marriage and that they had taken security from the High Court. He said the boy was 18 years old. He said their marriage was illegal as a girl should be above 18 and boy above 21 for marriage.

The Kamboh police said a case had been registered in this connection and further investigation was under way.

The police said a thorough probe would be conducted to verify the facts.