Man booked for marrying minor

Girl’s mother, who abetted the crime, held

Twenty five- year-old, M. Anjaneyulu was booked for marrying a 14-year-old girl. The bride’s mother, P. Naga Lakshmi, who performed the marriage, was also booked.

The girl is studying eighth class in a government school, while the accused is a labourer. He is a native of Talagada Deevi village of Nagayalanka mandal in Krishna district, said District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Ch. Vijay Kumar.

Naga Lakshmi, allegedly performed the marriage on April 22, but kept it a secret.

Raid conducted

On a tip off, a team led by Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) officers T. Padmavathi, A. Saleemunnissa, Y. Johnson and G. Premalatha conducted a raid on the house of Naga Lakshmi and rescued the girl on Wednesday.

Mr. Johnson said the girl would be provided necessary protection, and the local staff would follow up the case.

“The bride would be admitted in an NGO home and the WD&CW Department would help her in continuing education”, Ms. Premalatha said.

Avanigadda Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) V. Pothuraju said a complaint had been received on the child marriage and the Nagayalanka police would take action as per law.