VISAKHAPATNAM: Timely intervention by the activists of Child Rights Protection Forum (CRPF) along with the officials of Women and Child Welfare Department and police helped prevent a child marriage at Kaniti Colony in Vadlapudi area of Gajuwaka in the city Sunday.
The bride, a 16-year-old girl, was a native of Srikakulam district and a second year Intermediate student from a private college in Visakhapatnam city.
According to sources, CRPF convener Gondu Seetaram, Women and Child Welfare Project director K Chinmayee Devi and police personnel visited the house of the bridegroom at Vadlapudi area in the city, based on a tip-off, where the family members were performing a wedding ritual for the minor girl.
Initially the girl’s parents refused to stop the marriage, which was to be held Sunday night, and entered into heated arguments with the CRPF team and Chinmayee Devi.
However, the officials counselled the parents of both the bride and groom, and took a written undertaking that the girl would not be married off till she turns 18.