DCW rescues minor girl from child marriage in Palam

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Monday said it had rescued a 13-year-old girl who was allegedly being forced into child marriage in the capital last week.

The minor was rescued from Palam with help from Delhi Police.

The commission had received a complaint from a child helpline in Haryana’s Kurukshetra that a 13-year-old was forcefully being married to a 25-year-old man, DCW said in a statement.

“The commission deputed a team to visit the minor’s house in Palam. The team was shocked to note that wedding arrangements had been made in the house. The minor was dressed up as a bride and was being taken to Uttar Pradesh for her marriage,” it said.

It was learnt that the minor belonged to a poor family. Her mother was a domestic help and her father was a daily wage labourer.

A police team reached the house with a DCW counsellor and halted wedding preparations.

“When they were counselling the minor, it was found that the supposed groom’s brother, who is 35 years old, had previously sexually abused the minor victim and wanted to get the girl married to her brother,” the statement said.

The girl was then sent to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which has placed her at a shelter home.

DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said, “It is unfortunate that such practices are still on that too in the capital city. The commission will make all efforts to rehabilitate the girl.”