People's Democracy

Delhi: Police Collusion In Child Marriage

ON October 14, the Delhi state committee of Janwadi Mahila Samiti (JMS) organised a dharna at the police headquarters at ITO. This was meant to lodge protest against the negative role of the police in a child marriage case which occurred in Jhanagirpuri area on October 9.

On October 9, the JMS received a complaint from Kishan, the father of a 13 years old girl Shalu (resident of N-38/D-555, CD Park, Jahangirpuri, Delhi), that Shalu was being forcibly married to a 26 years old boy named Santosh. (Santosh is a resident of Loni in Ghziabad.) This was being done at the behest of Shalu’s mother Radha (Kishan’s wife) and Radha’s family in the presence of the area police.

When JMS activists, led by Ms Asha Lata (general secretary, JMS, Delhi state committee) and Ms Asha Sharma (secretariat member), reached the venue on October 9 in order to stop the marriage, they were attacked violently by the girl’s mother as well as other relatives. It is shameful that even though the local police were present at the venue, they took no steps to prevent the marriage, nor did they stop the attackers.

Addressing the gathering AIDWA general secretary Ms Sudha Sundaraman condemned the callous and irresponsible behaviour of the police. She stated that such an attitude could only encourage child marriage.

Addressing the activists, Asha Lata stated that the AIDWA had always been in the forefront of the struggle against child marriage. She emphatically said the role of SHO of the Jahangirpuri police station was highly objectionable and shocking. The Janwadi Mahila Samiti regarded this incident as a clear violation of the laws against child marriage.

Later a delegation led By Sudha Sundararaman met the police commissioner and submitted a memorandum demanding strict action against the SHO and police officials who were present at the venue and did not intervene in the matter. The police commissioner gave a patient hearing to delegation and ensured that he would take action against the involved police officials. (INN)