Minor girl, lover tie knot on panchayat’s order in Uttar Pradesh

The panchayat order came after the two were caught in a compromising position. Police has initiated a probe into the matter and the girl’s medical report is awaited to confirm the age.

A minor girl and her above 18-year-old boyfriend were married off, following a panchayat order after some locals caught them in a compromising position, in Maharajganj locality in Uttar Pradesh’s Gulharia.

A minor girl, who a relative claims is studying in Class 6, was married off to her boyfriend following a panchayat order in Uttar Pradesh. (HT Photo/ Representative image)

Sources said the ceremony took place at a temple on Wednesday in the presence of families of the couple. An aunt of the girl opposed the marriage claiming the girl, a class 6 student, was a minor.

However, the girl’s grandfather Rampreet claimed that she was above 18 and had been having the affair for the last one year.

“We came to know about the incident through media reports only. When and how locals arranged the marriage is being probed. Prima facie, the girl seems to be above 18 but her medical report is awaited to confirm the age,” said station house officer, Gulharia police station, BD Singh.

Meanwhile, senior superintendent of police RP Pandey has set up a panel under Gorakhnath circle officer, Charu Singh, to probe the matter. “A girl was married to a boy by the order of the panchayat late on Wednesday night. If she is found to be a minor in her medical examination report, appropriate action will be taken against those found guilty,” the SSP said.