TIRUCHY / THOOTHUKUDI/VIRUDHUNAGAR: In the continuing drive against minor marriages across the state, officials rescued eight girls, four in Virudhunagar, three in Tiruchy and one in Thoothukudi, in three districts on Saturday.
In Virudhunagar district, District Social Welfare Department, Anti-Human Trafficking Wing and ChildLine (1098) officials jointly stopped four child marriages on Saturday.
Sources said that the marriage of a 14-year-old girl from M Reddiapatti was arranged with a 30-year-old man. The girl’s parents had arranged the marriage after discontinuing her studies. Based on a tip-off, the officials visited the spot and stopped the ceremonies scheduled for Sunday from taking place.
In a similar incident, the marriage of a 14-year-old girl from Kariapatti with a 22-year-old man was stopped a day ahead of the ceremonies. Meanwhile, a 17-year-old girl from Narikudi was saved from tying the knot with a 22-year-old man by the officials, while the marriage of another 17-year-old girl from Srivilliputhur was stopped a day ahead of the ceremonies by the officials.
Meanwhile, in Tiruchy officials rescued three minors from tying the knot on Saturday. All the three marriages were scheduled to be solemnised in the next couple of days.
In the first incident, the ChildLine care officials rescued a minor from Vadakampatti village in the district from getting married.
In another incident, the DSW officials, acting on a tip-off, rushed to Pirattiyur on Saturday rescued another girl, whose marriage was to be held on Sunday. The girl was later produced before the CWC.
In the third case, the ChildLine care received a call regarding the wedding of a minor belonging to Siruganur. Following the tip-off officials reached Siruganur and rescued the girl.
Meanwhile, the marriage of a minor girl, scheduled for Sunday, was stopped by officials at Athikinaru, in Thoothukudi district.