Bid to swap teen bride with married woman foiled

Sources said, acting on a tip from child line volunteers, a team of social welfare officials along with police went to a spot near Thuraiyur to stop the marriage of a 16-year-old narikurava girl with Anand (25), who is also from her community.

When officials reached the spot, the family members continued to perform the rituals as per their tradition. But, on seeing the officials with police, they replaced the minor bride with a 25-year-old woman, who is already married and has a child.

Though family members claimed that the bride was 25 years of age, officials grew suspicious and searched for the minor bride and found her on a street with bridal make up.

Soon, the officials took the groom Anand, the ‘sudden’ bride and the minor to the police station. Later, the family members confessed the incident to the police. Subsequently, the girl was rescued and was sent to the reception unit. Further investigations are on.