‘Sold’ into marriage to drug addict 2 years ago, 17-year-old girl seeks annulment of wedding

A 17-year-old girl has approached Childline seeking annulment of her child marriage that she was forced into in 2018 by her stepfather in exchange for a sum of for Rs 50,000.

Key Highlights

• The survivor left her matrimonial house as she was subjected to brutal domestic violence there

• Her husband is now allegedly giving death threats to her and her family as she has refused to go back to him

• The matter has been reported to the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the Child Marriage Prevention Office

Bhopal: In a shocking incident, a girl was allegedly sold off by her stepfather as a bride to a 35-year-old drug addict two years ago when she was 15 years old. The girl, now 17, has approached Childline officials in Bhopal seeking annulment of her child marriage as she wants to complete her education.

The teenager now resides with her mother and younger brother.  She has taken up a job at a showroom in order to support her family and save some money to pay for her education. She said her husband, who takes drugs and mistreats her, is now threatening to eliminate her and her family as she has refused to return to his house.

Teenage girl narrates her ordeal to Childline officials

“According to her Class 10 marksheet, she is now 17-and-a-half-years old. She came to us on Friday, and told us that she wanted to be free of her child marriage that she was forced into two years ago,” a report by The Times of India quoted Archana Sahaye, director of City Childline, Bhopal, as saying.

The girl told Childline that after her father’s demise, her mother remarried. He stepfather sold her off for Rs 50,000 to a 35-year-old man for marriage. She failed to oppose him as she was barely 15 years old then, Sahaye said, adding that soon after the marriage, the girl left her matrimonial house, where she was allegedly subjected to domestic violence.

Husband is threatening me, says girl

Speaking to TOI, the minor survivor said her stepfather married her off to a truck driver for Rs 50,000. Her husband is now giving death threats to her and her family as she has refused to go back his house, she said, adding that he has also said that he would get her abducted if she didn’t return.

The matter has been reported to the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the Child Marriage Prevention Office.