Siblings aged 13 & 19 rescued from illegal marriages

Indore: District administration officials on Friday stopped illegal marriages of two siblings --- a 13-year-old girl who was being forced to marry a 42-year-old man, and her 19-year-old brother, who was scheduled to marry the man's niece--- in Rangwasa village.Acting on a helpline tip-off, a team from women and child development department, led by district programme officer Rajnish Sinha, confronted the family who had presented forged marksheets claiming the children were of legally marriageable age.A verification by district education office confirmed the documents were forged. Official records from Hoshangabad proved the siblings were aged just 13 and 19.When a flying squad, led by Mahendra Pathak and Ashish Goswami, arrived at the venue, the wedding celebrations were already underway with music and a decorated mandap. The team immediately ordered the removal of the tent and sound system.Facing the threat of criminal prosecution under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the family eventually signed a written undertaking to cancel the weddings.