Aurangabad (Maharashtra): A WhatsApp message sent by an alert neighbour to a Mumbai journalist, who in turn alerted the authorities, helped prevent a minor girl's marriage in this tourist city, officials said on Saturday.
The Mumbai journalist forwarded the WhatsApp message to the Maharashtra State Women's Commission Chairperson Vijaya Rahate.
"As it sounded serious, I contacted the Aurangabad Deputy Commissioner of Police-Zone II Rahul Shrirame around 9 a.m., requesting him to look into the matter urgently," Rahate said.
"I immediately despatched a two-member police team from the local Harsul police station to go and fully enquire into the matter and inform me of the factual position," Shrirame said.
"We went and met the families of the bride and the groom who were making last-minute preparations for the 'mangal mahurat' scheduled at 11 a.m. in an adjacent temple," Sable told IANS.
As the guests continued their revelry, Sable and his men made discreet investigations with the two families and learnt that the girl was indeed a minor and could not be married for at least another four months as per Indian law. The legal age to marry for women in India is 18.
The police learnt that the teen came from a very poor family, her mother had deserted her father who is paralysed since years and unable to support the family, and dependent on relatives for sheer survival.
Sable informed DCP Shrirame and the police counselled the two families, making it absolutely clear that if they went ahead with the wedding they could face stringent police action.
"Fortunately, the boy's side also understood the gravity of the situation. They have decided to perform the marriage after some more months elapses and the girl is legally eligible to marry," DCP Shrirame said.
In a bid to assuage the feelings of the large number of wedding guests, the police team requested them to partake of the marriage feast, but minus the wedding, of course.
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