Berhampur: A joint team of Child Development department and Ganjam Police rescued a minor girl who was allegedly kidnapped and forced to marry her cousin at Mudeskupa village under Badagada Police limits of the district.
The rescue of the minor girl was initiated following a directive of the Ganjam district collector Vijay Amrut Kulange.
Earlier, a lady teacher of a school in Pipili area of Puri district, where the girl was studying, had apprised Kulange through a tweet about the class-VIII student who was allegedly kidnapped and forced to marry one of her cousins Sunil Naik of Mudeskupa village.
While the statement of the police over the matter is yet to be obtained, Sunil’s father Praful Naik claimed that the marriage was solemnised after the girl’s family members gave their consent.
“Earlier the girl’s father had agreed to marry her to my son but later he told me that their marriage can be done only after the girl completes her studies. When I protested he said me that he would marry her off elsewhere. However, when I informed his wife and sons, they advised me to take the girl to my house.”
“Both my son and the girl agreed to live as husband and wife and it has been three months that the girl is staying in our house,” he added.
The minor girl, meanwhile, is now in the custody of Childline officials.