Arunachal: Child marriage victim gets new lease

Itanagar, Dec 21: Giving a boost to the ongoing fight against child marriage in Arunachal Pradesh, Kurung Kumey district police have recently succeeded in freeing a girl before the Lok Sabha passed a Bill prohibiting the ills of society.

On a tip-off that one Charu Pungtung of Dengdeng village of Chambang circle, working as a casual labourer in Sangram circle officer's office, had finalised the marriage of his five-year-old daughter, Charu Yalang with Tao Tara, son of Tao Talo of Tom village under Pistana circle of Lower Subansiri district.

A police team led by sub-inspector T Passar rescued the girl and produced both the parents before a local court.

The court ruled that the victim's father to return Rs, 41,500, a cow and a pig, he had received from the boy's father as bridal price, which both consented in writing. Strict legal action would follow in case of failure to comply with the undertaking and repetition of the same crime, banned recently by Kurung Kumey district judge Repo Ronya, the accused were told.

Senior police officials in the ranks of deputy commissioner and superintendent of police have been touring villages and educating people people regarding ill effects of child or forced marriage.

Indian Parliament on Tuesday passed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, 2006.

UNI