7 child marriages stopped in Morbi

RAJKOT: Acting on a tip-off, police and social justice department of Rajkot, raided a mass marriage function in Morbi on Sunday and prevented child marriages of seven couples.
According to sources, the raid was carried out at around 10 am in Parshuramnagar in the town when mass marriage function of Chuvaliya Koli community was going on. The community had organized mass marriage for 12 couples from different villages of Rajkot and Surendranagar districts.
"We found that of the total 12 couples, age of seven persons (either groom or bride) were below 18 years and 21 years which is not in accordance with the law. Organizers insisted that they did not go ahead with the wedding of such couples as soon as they came to know about their age. However, we are probing the matter and we are also investigating whether they have already performed the wedding rituals or not,'' said a senior government official.
Sources said that police questioned the mass marriage organizers and they told police that they had gone by what parents of the grooms and brides told them about their age.
According to government officials, they are swiftly acting on such tip-offs about child marriages being held in Rajkot district. In fact, in February alone, nine such child marriages were prevented after grooms or brides' age were found below the required age as per the law'' said a senior official.
Earlier, child marriages were prevented in Halenda, Shapar, Kalipat, Raiya Road, Pedhla, Wankaner, Madhapar and Popatpara among others in Rajkot district.
Sources said that most of the child marriages were found in particular communities which include Koli, Bharvad and Dalits. Child marriages are still prevalent in Koli and Bharvad communities due to lack of awareness and education.