What could be termed as the most unfortunate for the civil society of the present era of modern smart technology, the District Child Welfare Committee, (CWC) Darrang on Friday rescued a child marriage victim girl in Assam’s Baihata Chariali.
“The police produced the victim minor before us and we have recorded her statement. Later as per her desire, we have handed her over to the family members,” said Rashmi Rekha Devi, one of the members of CWC while talking to Northeast Now.
Earlier Sipajhar police by registering a case (No 176/19) U/S 9/10 of the Child Marriage Prohibition Act 2006 arrested accused 31-year-old Naresh Deka, son of Sishuram Deka of Devananda village under Sipajhar police station and produced him before the court.
The court remanded him to judicial custody till March 27 next.
“Legal action as per law has been executed against the prime accused, the bridegroom of the illegal marriage as the girl was a minor about six months less than the requisite age of eighteen years,” informed Darrang superintendent of police Amrit Kr Bhuyan.
Similarly, the officer-in-charge Chandra Kalita said that the girl was under-aged as per the records of her school certificate.
It has been reported that on the night of Wednesday, a team of the CWC, Darrang comprising its chairman Rajen Ch Das and members Purnima Goswami, Rashmi Rekha Devi and Ramesh Saikia overcoming acute adverse situation rescued and restored the minor girl with the help of Sipajhar police passing a strong message among the public that child in conflict needs necessary care and protection while child marriage is a punishable offence.
It may be mentioned that with an aim to free Darrang district from the menace of illegal child marriage, Darrang deputy commissioner Ghanshyam Dass with the support from the District Child Protection Unit has recently taken up a series of public awareness meetings in some rural pockets of the district and has earned good public response.