Six Rajasthan officials injured trying to stop child marriages

Jaipur, April 21 (IANS) At least six police and administration officials were injured when they were attacked by a group of villagers who were carrying out child marriages in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district, police said Saturday.

The villagers even attacked a police outpost later. Police arrested 15 villagers Saturday and lodged first information reports (FIR) against 50 others.

The incident took place late Friday night in Ghatoli area of Jhalawar district, over 300 km from Jaipur.

"We were on high alert in the wake of Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej) that is to be observed April 24. The day is considered highly auspicious for marriages," a police officer told IANS.

He added that police got a tip-off that about 30 minors were being illegally married in a group wedding ceremony at Prithavipura village. A team of district administration and police officers was rushed to the spot.

"The officers asked the villagers to show the birth certificates of the grooms and brides. When they did not make these documents available, the team asked the villagers to stop the weddings. On this, the villagers started pelting stones on the officers following which six of them were injured," said the officer.

The villagers later attacked a police outpost situated nearby. Two policemen at the outpost fled away to save their lives.

In a written direction to the district collectors and superintendents of police in each district, the state home department has asked them to keep strict vigil on child marriages on Akha Teej, which is a rampant practice in the rural areas of Rajasthan.