The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) along with city police on Friday night stopped a child marriage and rescued the minor girl, who is now put in a shelter home.
CWC member Pradeep Patnaik said he got a tip off from a high ranking district official over the incident and soon arrived at the marriage mandap at Thoria Sahi where all arrangement for the marriage was complete. “We rescued the 14-year-old girl, who was forced by her family and relatives to tie the nuptial knot with a 22-year-old boy of Jajpur district”, Patnaik said.
As per the provisions under the Juvenile Justice (C and P) Act of 2000, the minor girl is now under the care and guide of a registered shelter home in the city, Patnaik said adding that all steps would be taken as per the norms of the Act to protect the rights of the minor.