Child marriage leads to death in Silchar

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Child marriage is yet to end in our cultured and civilized society, particularly in rural and remote areas. On Monday, a case was reported from Balia village under Nilambazar police station under Karimganj district. After the marriage of the girl in her premature age, she suffered massive haemorrhage during the delivery of her baby in a private hospital at Kanaishal, leading to her death. The inaction of the police has evoked anger and anguish in her family. No action has been initiated by the police against the hospital authority.

Fortunately, the baby born is hale and hearty. Child Welfare Committee has to take up the case with the Nilambazar police. Under pressure, the police moved to investigate the case. According to OC of Nilambazar, the accused husband Faruk Uddin was traced out at his in-laws' house at Gandhai Balia very close to Bangladesh border. But, a powerful lobby has become active to hush up the matter. Police however remained firm to pursue the case.

After his arrest, Faruk was produced before the CJM Court at Karimganj which remanded him to Central Jail of the border town. He hails from Gamaria village of Ramkrishna Naga. A case vide no. 777/21 under section 376 3 and POCSO Act (Prevention of Child Sexual Offences) has been filed against him. SP Padmanath Barua said the police took cognizance of the offence on the basis of FIR of Child Welfare Committee.

It might be recollected that a similar case of child marriage of Balia village was prevented by BSF and both the would-be bride and bridegroom were taken into custody and handed over to Nilambazar police. It was reported in The Sentinel as well. Under POCSO Act a person guilty of sexual offence against children below 16 years shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years and might even extend to life imprisonment.

Also Read: Border Security Force prevents child marriage in border village of Kabol

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