Trafficking fears grow as Indian police halt wedding ceremony to rescue child bride
Police in the southern Indian state of Karnataka have rescued a schoolgirl who called them for help after learning she was to be married to a much older man, campaigners said on Tuesday, in a case highlighting the risk of child-trafficking in the region.
Since Gujarat has a skewed sex ratio, many older men come here to marry because they don’t find girls back home
In a rare occurrence, the 15-year-old called the police a day after pre-wedding ceremonies began in her village in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district.
Police officials said eight people, including the 26-year-old prospective groom from the western Indian state of Gujarat, have been arrested in connection with the case.
In India, the legal age for marriage is 18 for girls and 21 for boys. But considered a financial burden on their families, many girls are married off by their parents before their 18th birthday.
Children’s charities say there has been a growing trend of suitors from Gujarat seeking brides from Karnataka, paying a dowry of up to 100,000 rupees (US$1,473) and covering the costs of the wedding.
“Since Gujarat has a skewed sex ratio, many older men come here to marry because they don’t find girls back home,” said Anand Raj of non-profit Margadarshi Society, which runs a helpline for children to report abuse. “But they only want girls below 18 and that makes us suspect trafficking.”
The Gujarati families come, strike a deal, marry and return to their homes in two days, officials investigating the schoolgirl’s case said.
