ODISHA: A village in Odisha witnessed a dramatic wedding that was no less than a Bollywood flick. The would-be bride eloped with her boyfriend on her wedding day and this resulted in humiliation to the bride's family who later chooses to marry off their second daughter who is a minor and studying in Class 10.
The incident took place in Odisha's Kalahandi district, where a wedding was about to take place. However, things took a turn when it came to light that the would-be bride had eloped with her boyfriend on Tuesday evening, a few hours before her marriage with the 26-year-old groom.
Out of humiliation, the bride's family left with no other option offered the hands of their second daughter for the marriage. A symbolic marriage was solemnized, and the groom returned home with the minor.
Meanwhile, as the news of the wedding spread far and wide it also came to the notice of the district administration who swung into action.
As per reports, Jaipatna Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Sukanti Behera and police reached the girl's house at Malguda late in the night, where they found that she has already left with the groom's family.
The CDPO along with the police reached the groom's house in Tentulikhunti village under Kalampur block and rescued the minor girl.
The groom's family handed over the minor girl to her brother, who was accompanying the team of police. Later the groom's and bride's family were counselled and informed that girl was a minor and is not of marriageable age and that child marriage was illegal.
Reportedly, the girl is now staying with her parents in her own house and will appear for her Class x examinations.
No case was registered against the families and they agreed not to solemnize the girl's wedding before she attains the marriageable age.
The families were unaware that child marriage was illegal and took the step out of peer pressure and social stigma.
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