Police in Bengaluru have initiated legal proceedings against several individuals, including the head of a local mosque, for their alleged role in facilitating the marriage of a 16-year-old girl in the Anepalya area. The accused have been formally charged under the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929.
The gravity of the situation was first brought to light by city advocate Hussain Owais S., who alerted state and city police chiefs, as well as the Child Welfare Committee, about the illegal union of a minor girl with a 20-year-old boy. Despite this urgent tip-off, it reportedly took the Cubbon Park police four days to formally register the case, raising questions about procedural delays. Advocate Owais emphasized that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had recently issued clear directives for robust enforcement against child marriages across the state.
Initial reports indicate that the minor girl and the 20-year-old boy were in a relationship, which eventually came to the attention of their parents. Subsequently, their marriage was solemnized at a mosque. Following Mr. Owais’s intervention, a team from the District Child Helpline, led by member Pundalik, was dispatched to the Neelasandra mosque for investigation. However, the mosque’s head reportedly declined to cooperate, asserting that the marriage was conducted in accordance with Muslim community customs. Pundalik’s official complaint stated, “Based on the evidence, including photographs and videos, the girl is clearly a minor, making the marriage a prosecutable offense.” Mr. Owais further voiced concerns regarding the police’s alleged delay in safeguarding the victim, claiming that despite providing specific details of those involved, their names were omitted from the First Information Report (FIR), necessitating a court order for him to obtain a copy. He has urgently appealed to the authorities to rescue the girl and arrange for a medical examination, given suspicions of pregnancy.