A nation which is fighting problems like child marriage every single day, sees another instance, in which a teen bride had no other option but to run away from her wedding
A nation which is fighting problems like child marriage every single day, sees another instance, in which a 16-year-old bride had no other option but to run away from her wedding, as she was not prepared for the marriage. She later informed the police from her friend's cell phone and hid at a place near her house.
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The incident took place in Pune district near Nangoan village of Manchar. After the victim Laxmi Paikrao filed a complaint, Manchar police registered a case against the girl's parents Parvati (43) and Suresh (48), the groom Sanket Laxman Gaikwad (21), his parents Laxman (53) and Lilabai (44) and the person who arranged the marriage Savita Gaikwad.
Marriage or a deal?
Speaking to mid-day, Laxmi said, "We originally hail from Hingola in Gadchiroli. As the area is drought affected, we later shifted to Pune. My parents are domestic labourers and they work in a farm. I sell vegetables to help my parents earn some more money so that we can fund my brother's education. In October, a person approached my parents and then fixed my marriage. Though I objected to the wedding, they forced me by saying that the groom's family was ready to pay Rs 20,000 cash and take care of the wedding expenses as well. Later, I even told the boy and his parents that I was not ready for the marriage, but even they refused to budge from their decision. I even threatened them of approaching the police, but they told me that the cops would not help."
She added, "My parents took away my mobile phone and did not let me step out of the house. Later, during my pre-marriage rituals, I asked a friend of mine to help me get out of the mess. Initially, she was afraid as I had planned to run away but then I asked her to lend me her phone during the marriage ceremony as I had to inform the police."
Parents arrested
Sub-inspector of Manchar police station Bandopant Ghadge, who is investigating the case said, "We rushed to the spot immediately after the girl called the police control room. We have arrested the parents of the both the boy and girl. But the groom is missing. We have registered a case under relevant sections of IPC and Prohibition of Child Marriage Act." All the arrested were produced before the court on Friday and have been remanded in police custody till Monday.
Rs 20k
The amount the groom's family paid the bride's parents
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