Arun Ram

Chennai: Tamil Nadu may be among the top states in human development indices, but a couple of recent incidents puts the state on a par with the worst.

A 12-year-old girl in Salem district was married off to a 25-year-old man who tortured her and another girl of the same age in Villupuram district was “married off” to the village deity.

Salem police have arrested Suresh (25) and Kaliammal, the girl’s mother under the Child Marriages Restraint Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code. Kamatchi (not the real name) of Seendamangalam village in Omalur Taluk had just completed the 8th class when her mother “married” her off to Suresh, an uncle to the girl and a worker in a handloom centre, in August.

Police said poverty was cited as the reason for marrying off Kamatchi whose father had passed away, but ironically, the girl was victimised for dowry.What is more shocking is that the elders on either side were present to solemnise the marriage, suggesting that such marriages may be happening in Tamil Nadu’s interior villages.

When Kamatchi said she wanted to continue with her studies, Suresh agreed to it before the marriage, but later went back on his promise.

“He started harassing the girl for dowry, and when her family could not pay anything, Suresh started physically torturing her.The girl is admitted to a hospital and is in a state of shock. We are investigating how the minor was married off and what all problems she underwent after that,” Salem superintendent of police N Bhaskaran told DNA.

In another incident on Monday, a 12-year-old girl in Kollur village was “married off” to the local deity, reminiscent of the devadasi system.

Police said the family had “offered” the girl to goddess Mariaman. The girl’s brother-in-law had recently died and a clairvoyant reportedly prescribed ‘pottuvaithal’ (marriage to God) to “ward off evils surrounding the family.”

The priest and the girl’s father were taken into custody and let off with a warning.

Source : DNA