Villagers gherao officials trying to prevent child marriage in Warangal

Warangal Rural: Residents of Talla Kunta thanda gheraoed the officials including policemen when the latter tried to prevent a child marriage on Wednesday night. Acting on a tip-off that a child marriage was to be performed at the thanda, nearly 15 officials and staff of the childline protection department, ICDS and police went to the […]

Warangal Rural: Residents of Talla Kunta thanda gheraoed the officials including policemen when the latter tried to prevent a child marriage on Wednesday night.

Acting on a tip-off that a child marriage was to be performed at the thanda, nearly 15 officials and staff of the childline protection department, ICDS and police went to the village under Wardhannapet municipality limits to prevent it.

But they faced strong opposition as the villagers including educated youth arguing with officials and hurling abuses. The villagers had even tried to chase them away. “It is so shocking. Even educated youth of the thanda, who are supposed to educate their villagers and prevent child marriages, had provoked the women against us though we were accompanied by the police personnel,” District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) G Mahender Reddy told Telangana Today. Tension prevailed for a while at the village due to the alleged attack on the officials.

It may be recalled here that the officials successfully prevented a child marriage at the same village a week ago. But this time the officials have tasted the wrath of the people. The villagers have not allowed the officials to go to the house of the parents of the minor girl whose marriage was being performed.

“We will perform the marriage. Who are you to prevent us? We will see your end, if you don’t leave this place,” they warned. “Due to this, we had left the village and reached the police station. We informed the matter to the District Collector M Haritha and District Welfare Officer Chinnnaiah,” Mahender added.

Speaking to ‘Telangana Today’, Dr Suresh Devath, social activist and Founder President of Society for Public Welfare and Initiative (SPWI), who also belongs to the same tribal community said that there is a need for more awareness for the tribals to put an end to the child marriages. Stating that the officials are doing their best to stop the child marriages, he said that the people’s representatives, voluntary organisations and spiritual leaders of the tribal community must also educate the people to end this bad practice. “Unfortunately, even the tribal leaders, who attained higher positions like ministers, never bothered about stopping this social evil. I have never seen a tribal minister talking against the child marriages,” he rued.