145;Child marriage146;: cops unaware of law

It was learnt that the marriage took place in Jamalpur village in a family of Baazigar community, in which child marriage is a tradition, and the boy belongs to Ucha Pind Sanghowal.

The matter was reported to the police by Jeeto, but they are yet to take any action, saying that the marriage was solemnised before the police reached and the boy8217;s family had given an affidavit, saying that the boy was 18-year-old.

Sadar police station SI Bhupinder Singh, who had visited the spot, said the boy8217;s father, Balbir Singh, gave an affidavit claiming that boy was 18-year-old.

However, girl8217;s family produced a ration card on which her age was mentioned as 23 years. 8220;The panchayat members of Jamalpur gave in writing that it was a custom in their community to get their children married at an early age and the gauna the girl shifting to the boy8217;s home takes place later,8221; he said. When told that even if the boy is 18-year-old, the marriage is a punishable offence, he claimed that some relaxation was given to certain tribes, where the consummation of marriage takes place later.