A 17 year-old-girl of Kalyan Nagar of Humepipe under the Sitaramdera police station area belonging to a lower middle class family on Tuesday approached police district headquarters in protest against forcible marriage by her parents.
Accompanied by her elder sister, Sulochana, the minor girl had first come to meet senior Superintendent of Police, Anoop T Mathew for lodging a complaint, but as the officer was not present at his office, she met deputy superintendent of police (law and order) BN Singh who took notice of the complaint and asked the police concerned to do the needful.
The 17-year-old girl said that she has appeared in matriculation examination and was interested to continue her study, but her parents are forcing her to marry.
"I want to continue to study but my parents are not keen. Despite my strong objection to the marriage at this age, my parents have arranged a bridegroom for me to get me married next month. As I was no option left for me, I contacted my elder sister's house in Bhuiyandih for helping me and now I have come to seek the police help," said the girl.
Sulochana said they are five sisters and the girl who was being forced to getting married is the youngest in them.
"My parents are not so well off. They have got four of their daughters married at a young age and are also trying to do the same thing with the youngest sister. I am supporting my youngest sister as she is interested to continue her study," said Sulochana who is married.
DSP (law and order) Singh confirmed a minor girl to have met him and lodged a complaint against her parents and two elder brothers who are all set to get her married against her will.
"We applauded her for her courage to protest early marriage. We got a complaint of forced marriage and had to act against the parents of the girl," said Singh.
The DSP (law and order) said after heard her plea from the minor girl, they ordered officer-in-charge, Sitaramdera police station Jayant Tirkey to bring the girl's father Budhi Kewat and two brothers, Raju and Bablu to the police station for making aware about the Hindu Marriage Act.
The DSP, when asked, said that even if a girl is matured and has crossed the 18-year-old mark, no parents can force any girl for marriage.
The girl's father Budhi Kewat said that they wanted to see his youngest daughter get married as he has grown very old and was worried about her future.