12-Year-Old Tribal Girl Sold For Rs 40,000 In Bhopal; 5 Arrested

The officials of Women and Child Welfare department in Madhya Pradesh have rescued a 12-year-old tribal girl from being married off to a 27-year-old man after she was sold by her parents for Rs 40,000, in Bhopal on Wednesday. Five people have been arrested for abetting child marriage and human trafficking, police said.

The officials prevented the marriage being solemnised in a village under Gunaga police station limits near capital Bhopal. According to the police, the girl's parents had received an advance of Rs 20,000, with the remaining amount to be handed over to them after the wedding, reported news agency ANI.

"We received information from the Women and Child Development Department about a child marriage in Gunaga police station area, following which we reached the spot and saw that the 'haldi' ceremony was taking place. On inquiry, it was found the girl was only 12 years old and the person whom she was getting married to was 27 years old," the ANI report quoted Superintendent of Police (Bhopal Rural) Kiranlata Kerketta as saying.

The minor girl told the police that dimissing her protests against the alliance, her parents had fixed her marriage for Rs 40,000, SP Kerketta said, adding that a case was registered against five persons so far, including the hapless girl's parents, the bridegroom and his parents under the provisions of laws related to human trafficking, Juvenile Justice Act, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the SC/ST Act.

All these accused were arrested on the basis of the statement of the girl, said the police official. Further investigation into the matter is underway, SP Kerketta said, adding that cases would also be lodged against those who worked as brokers or would be found involved in the case.