Official assaulted after he tried to prevent child marriage

Hyderabad, Feb 8: A District Child Protection Officer was allegedly assaulted by a group after he tried to prevent the child marriage of a 16-year-old girl at Singareni Colony here today.

Mohammed Imtiyaz said he was attacked by a group at the marriage venue when he started taking photographs of the event. "As I started taking photos, they suddenly caught hold of my neck and hands as well as snatched my mobile phone," said Imtiyaz, who somehow managed to escape and approach the Saidabad police station.

Based on information that a child marriage was being conducted at Singareni Colony he had reached the venue in the morning and counselled the family members, who initially agreed not to conduct the wedding after which he left for the Raheempura area where another child marriage was on.

"Along with local police officials, I counselled family members and managed to prevent the child marriage at Raheempura where the girl was below 18-years," he said. Imtiyaz said that after he returned to Singareni Colony, to get it in writing from family members of the 16-year-old girl, he found that her marriage was still on.

Even as he took photos of the event, the group attacked him. "I went to police station but when I returned to the venue along with the police, the girl's family and the attackers were not to be seen. I will lodge a complaint tomorrow," Imtiyaz said. Saidabad police station inspector A Srinivasulu said that Imtiyaz has informed the police about the incident and the police is looking into the matter.

PTI