Child marriage cases in Karnataka spike in 6 years, but only 1 conviction

BENGALURU: Child marriage cases that came under the radar of Karnataka police have more than doubled in the last six years. While 29 such cases were reported to police in 2013, the number touched 75 last year, but only one case ended in conviction, according to police records.
Additional director general of police (crime and technical services) MA Saleem said awareness among the public is the main reason for the rise in the number of child marriage cases registered.
“People alert police about child marriages and provide details, including place and time. Police officials — who work in remote villages and places where child marriages are rampant — have been directed to keep a strict vigil on such issues,” he said.

Asked about the poor conviction rate, Saleem cited non-cooperation from family members at the time of trial.
Another senior police officer said courts also treat such cases leniently, depending on the stage in which they are reported. “If the complaint reaches us earlier, the marriages will be prevented. But in case of late complaints, we ensure that lives of those involved are not ruined. But courts order the married girls to be sent back to their parents as the marriage is invalid and ask jurisdictional police to keep a watch,” he added.
Last year, police received a message that an 11-year-old girl was being married off to a 35-year-old man near Ranebennur in Haveri district. Accompanied by officials from the social welfare department, cops reached the temple, where the marriage rituals had begun. Police stopped the marriage and detained the groom as well as parents from both sides and produced them before the local court. The judge granted them bail and directed police to carry out an investigation.
The girl was produced before the child welfare committee and was later reunited with her parents after the latter gave an undertaking, saying they shall marry her only after she turns 18.
But not all cases end on a happy note. Seema Diwan, president, Talaash Association, which works for women and child welfare, recalled the case of a minor girl who she had rescued from marriage. “After rescuing the girl, we produced her before the child welfare committee and the panel handed her over to the custody of a woman from a resident welfare association. Unfortunately, the girl eloped with a boy sometime later,” she said.