DCW saves 13-yr-old from marriage

NEW DELHI: The 13-year-old girl who was allegedly being forcibly married to a Gujarat-based man at an ashram in Nand Nagri was rescued in a joint operation of Delhi

NEW DELHI: The 13-year-old girl who was allegedly being forcibly married to a Gujarat-based man at an ashram in Nand Nagri was rescued in a joint operation of Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) and police.

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The incident happened on Thursday when the girl was being taken to marry in Kusht Aashram of Tahirpur, allegedly by her stepmother.

The commission received an anonymous call on Thursday night about the incident after which the commission officials contacted police and stopped the marriage.

“The DCW received an anonymous call on June 8 alerting the commission of the marriage. The mobile helpline of the commission contacted the Delhi Police from Nand Nagri police station and reached the marriage location immediately and stopped the marriage,” DCW officials said.

A senior DCW official said a joint team of Delhi Police and DCW ensured that the illegal wedding did not take place.

“The girl’s father is dead and her stepmother was forcefully getting her married. The commission is pursuing the case with the Delhi police for registration of an FIR against the step mother of the girl,” the commission said in a statement.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal tweeted, “DCW Mobile Helpline rescued 13 year old girl last night from forceful illegal marriage arranged by her step mother in Tahirpur Delhi.”

The girl was sent to a child home by child welfare committee (CWC) after being rescued, officials said.

“We are investigating into the matter,” said a senior police official.