On a tip-off that about 42 couples -- most of them reportedly minors -- were to tie the nuptial knot in a mass ceremony, a team of district administration and police officers rushed to Prithvepura village late on Friday, Rambharosi Meena, SHO, Ghatolli police station, said. When the officers demanded the birth certificates of the brides and grooms, the villagers, around 5,000 in number, allegedly assaulted and pelted stone at them, in which about 12 officials received severe injuries, he said.
The mob is reported to have chased the team for a kilometre and damaged the glasses of government vehicles. Later, the villagers entered Churiliya police check-post nearby and damaged the furniture there. "We have arrested 11 villagers and cases have been lodged against 24 identified and over 400 other unidentified villagers," the SHO said, adding, the arrested would be produced before the district magistrate today. The marriages, however, have been stopped, the SHO said.