The timely intervention of the child welfare committee (CWC), Childline and district social welfare officer prevented the marriage of two minor girls, aged 14 and 17, scheduled to take place near here on Monday.

The police arrested 10 persons, including the two bridegrooms.

In the first case, a 14-year-old girl, hailing from Seshayi Kagar in Tiruchy, was to be married to a 30-year-old man, Thirupathi from Karur district. The marriage was scheduled to take place at the bride’s house between 7.30 am and 9 am on Monday.

Tipped off by an anonymous caller on Sunday night, CWC member and advocate Jayanthi Rani, accompanied by district social welfare officer Yashodhai, who is also the child marriage prohibition officer, and Childline coordinator Albert Manokaran, rushed there along with police and rescued the girl.

“When we went to the house, the parents of the girl and bridegroom resisted and argued they had made all arrangements for the marriage. They also requested us not to stop the marriage. But, we expressed our helplessness stating that we cannot connive with them,” Ms Jayanthi Rani said.

After much persuasion, they produced the girl before the team, which handed her over to Childline in Tiruchy, Ms Rani said.

On a complaint from Ms Yasodhai, K.K. Nagar police arrested five persons, including the groom.
The same team prevented the marriage of a 17-year girl to Perumal, 29, at Sedimalai Murugan temple, Thuvakudi, on Monday.

“We got an anonymous call informing us of the marriage of a 17-year-old girl at Thuvakudi, Ms Jayanthi Rani said.

On a complaint from Ms Yashodhai, cops attached to the all-woman police station in Tiruverumbur rescued the girl and arrested five persons, including the bridegroom.