SALEM: Two minor marriages - one in Salem and the other in Pollachi - were stopped on Sunday.
In the first incident, Rajendran, a resident of Vanakaravatti, arranged the marriage of his son, Sivan (25) with a 17-year-old girl from Komarasamypatti. Their betrothal was held on Saturday and the marriage was scheduled for Sunday.
Early in the morning, VAO Narasimman was tipped off about the minor status of the bride. Narasimman then visited Rajendran’s house and informed him that the marriage was legally invalid. Following this, the wedding was called off.
In Pollachi, police said the parents of a 17- year-old girl had arranged her marriage with a 23-year-old relative.
On an anonymous petition, the Mahalingapuram police investigated the matter. However, the parents of the girl claimed she was 18 years of age. Not satisfied, the police probed further and verified that the girl had three months to attain 18 years. However, none was arrested in the matter since an FIR was not filed.
“After we advised about the legal consequences of a child marriage, the parents decided to put off the marriage by four months,” said M Nachimuthu special sub inspector of Mahalingapuram police station.
This is the first time that the police have stopped the marriage of a minor girl in the recent past in Pollachi sub-division limits.
They have informed the child welfare committee about the incident.