A Rajasthan love story: Mother at 15, wife at 18
JAIPUR: Anu Baghel and Sachin Kumar’s love story had a happy ending on Wednesday, unlike many other inter-caste couples who are murdered in honour killings for eloping to get married.
Baghel, an Other Backward Class woman from Rajasthan’s Dholpur, was 15 when she eloped with 21-yearold Kumar in February 2015. Her parents registered a case of abduction and rape against Kumar, a resident of Bharatpur, at Dholpur’s Kolari police station. Kumar belongs to the Scheduled Caste.
Police traced the couple in May 2015. Kumar was sent to jail and Baghel to a govern- ment home after her family disowned her when they found out that she was pregnant. She later gave birth to a baby girl. Kumar spent 18 months in jail and walked out on bail in 2016. In July this year, he was acquitted of the charges and the case was disposed of. Baghel turned 18 on October 16 and was taken to the Dholpur child welfare committee.
“On turning 18, the girl was produced before us and we asked her what she wanted to do now. She said she wanted to get married to Sachin if he was willing. We spoke to the man’s family and they agreed to accept her and the infant,” said Bijender Parmar, chairperson of Dholpur child welfare committee.
On Wednesday, they became a legally wedded couple. And their daughter participated in the ceremony.
Members of child welfare committees of Bharatpur and Dholpur, who were involved in the case, were guests at the wedding. Rakesh Tiwari, a child rights activist, said the wedding was in the best interest of the two and their daughter. “This is what is called the complete rehabilitation,” he said.