Baghpat: A planned child marriage in a village under Baraut tehsil of Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district was stopped after a timely intervention by the Child Helpline team and local police authorities.
The action followed a tip-off received on Child Helpline 1098, informing officials that a minor girl was about to be married. Acting swiftly, Child Helpline Coordinator Vandana Gupta, accompanied by police personnel, reached the village and found wedding preparations in full swing.
The marriage venue had been decorated, relatives had gathered, and food for the wedding feast was being prepared. Traditional wedding songs were being sung by family members, while the groom’s procession was expected to arrive the following day.
During verification, the girl’s parents claimed that she was an adult and produced her educational documents. However, scrutiny of her records revealed that she was still around six months short of the legal marriage age of 18 years.
Despite repeated requests from family members to allow the ceremony to proceed, officials explained that the law strictly prohibits the marriage of minors. The wedding was subsequently halted.
The girl was taken under official protection and shifted to the One Stop Centre at the district hospital. Authorities said she will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee, which will decide the next course of action in accordance with legal provisions.
Officials reiterated that child marriage remains a punishable offence and urged citizens to report such cases to ensure the safety, education, and well-being of children.
