13-year-old bride rescued in Telangana after teacher raises alarm

A 13-year-old girl from Ranga Reddy district in the southern Indian state of Telangana has been rescued from an illegal child marriage after her schoolteacher reported the incident to local authorities, according to an NDTV report.

The girl, a Class 8 student, was reportedly married off on May 28 to a 40-year-old married man, identified as Srinivas Goud, from Kandiwada village.

The marriage came to light when the girl confided in her teacher, who promptly informed district tahsildar Rajeshwar and police inspector Prasad.

“The girl lives with her mother and brother. Her mother had informed their landlord that she intended to marry off her daughter. A mediator then arranged the match with the 40-year-old man, and the marriage took place in May,” said the police inspector.

The man, the girl’s mother, the mediator, a priest who conducted the ceremony, and the man's wife have all been booked under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.

The minor has been placed in a Sakhi Centre for care and counselling. District Child Protection Officer Prawin Kumar said  that the girl and the man had reportedly been cohabiting for nearly two months.

“If the girl was subjected to sexual activity, a case under the POCSO Act will be filed,” Kumar said. Engaging in sexual relations with a minor constitutes a criminal offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.