Three arrested for conducting child marriage in Tamil Nadu

DHARMAPURI: Three people, including two women, were arrested on Saturday for solemnising the wedding of a 14-year-old girl in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu .

The all-woman police at Pennagaram was notified by Childline officials after they received call from a girl. Inspector of the station C Latha said, “A girl, who spoke over the phone, informed the Childline officials that her parents had performed her marriage a month ago without her consent.”

Based on the girl’s information, Childline officials lodged a complaint with Pennagaram police on Friday evening.

During inquiries, police officials came to know that K Mayili, 40, of Sellamudi village near Pennagaram, got her daughter married to T Ravi, 28, of the same village. Ravi owned a petty chips outlet in Mumbai.

Following the lockdown, Ravi came over to his village. His mother, T Alagammal, 50, wished to get her son married and approached Mayili. The marriage was conducted on April 29.

Based on inquiries and confessional statement, inspector Latha arrested Ravi, Alagammal and Mayili on Saturday.

All three were booked under Pocso Act and lodged in Salem Central Prison.