Gokak: Brother stops teen sister’s forced marriage

Gokak: A 21-year-old man saved his 16-year-old sister who was forced into child marriage at Konnur village of Gokak taluk.

The man in question is Raju Megannavar, his parents are vegetable vendors who are struggling to make their ends meet amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Raju’s aunt, Shevakka Modagi offered to help to look at the family’s condition. She said that she would ensure the girl’s education till PUC and later organize the marriage with her son.

The girl was living at her aunt’s place for the past two months, where Shevakka organized her son’s marriage to the 16-year-old.

Raju’s parents were at Sherabad village in Rayabag taluk leaving him alone at their house in Ghataprabha. Shevakka utilized this situation to organize the marriage between her 24-year-old son and Raju’s sister in the pretext of Kartika Habba. . When the girl’s parents came to know about the marriage, they told Raju to stop it.

When Raju reached his aunt’s place, he saw that the decorations were done ahead of marriage. He then called the local police who rushed to the house along with women welfare officers. Raju’s aunt who grew suspicious sent the girl away.

When questioned Shevakka said that she had no idea about the whereabouts of the girl and that she was celebrating Kartika Habba.

The police made Shevakka sign an undertaking that she wouldn’t arrange a marriage of the 16-year-old till she turns major.

Meanwhile, a kidnapping case has been filed by Raju against his aunt at the Gokak Police station.