Deserted minor bride spends night at Ambala rly station room

Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service
Ambala, October 23

The deserted minor bride, for whom the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) had issued orders to send her to Bal Kunj yesterday, had to spend the night in a room of the Railway Childline at the Ambala Cantt railway station as no vehicle was provided by the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) to take her to the Chhachhrauli shelter home.

Along with her, there was another girl who was rescued by the Railway Childline late last evening. Both had to spend the night on a single folding bed.

Railway Childline coordinator Rakesh said, “We kept waiting for the vehicle after the CWC order. As it was getting late in the night, in the absence of another place to keep them, the room provided to the childline was given to them. Another girl, who belongs to Patiala, was also kept here under the supervision of the women staff.”

District Protection Officer Baljeet Kaur said, “I had allowed a vehicle and if the DCPO did not get it, she should have informed me. I have sought an explanation from the DCPO.”

CWC member Mohit Aggarwal said, “We have been told that the girls remained at the railway station. Keeping them at the railway station was not safe and such lapses can’t be accepted. An explanation has been sought from the officials concerned.”

DCPO Mamta did not comment on the issue.