Malda, Oct. 25: A 14-year-old called police to stop her family from marrying her off to a boy of the same age at Satghoria village in the Englishbazar police station area this morning.

A force from the nearby police station arrived at her house within minutes and forced the girl’s father to call off the wedding. A police picket has been set up there to prevent further attempts to get her married.

Fatima and Tariq (names changed) both study in Class VI. Fatima had been against the marriage from the beginning because she wanted to continue her education.

However, despite her objections, her family fixed her marriage with Tariq who hails from Karandighi in North Dinajpur. Fatima’s father Sadiqul Islam and Tariq’s father Isaq Ali played important roles in the negotiations.

The wedding was to be held today.

This morning, when her parents and other family members were busy with the arrangements for the wedding, Fatima sneaked out of the house and made straight for the local “coin booth”. She called up the Englishbazar police station from the booth and informed them of the proposed marriage.

“Fatima told us that she was not ready for marriage because she wanted to study further,” said sub-inspector Parimal Saha.

Two vanloads of policemen, headed by Saha, arrived at Fatima’s house immediately. Sadiqul, who responded to the knock on the door, was stunned to see them. The officer asked him to call off the marriage to avoid being arrested.

Sadiqul pleaded with the officer, saying that the marriage had been settled much earlier and all arrangements were complete. “He said the bridegroom and his family were expected any moment,” said a police source.

Saha, however, ensured that Sadiqul called up the bridegroom’s father. “Sadiqul told Isaq in front of us that the bridegroom and others should not come to Satghoria because both of them could be arrested for arranging the marriage of two minors,” said the sub-inspector.

By that time, the whole village had collected outside Sadiqul’s house. Gram panchayat member Ashok Mondal said: “All of us are with the girl. We are proud of what she did today.”

Asraful Haque, the headmaster of Budhiya High Madarsa where Fatima studies, said she had earlier told some of her teachers at school about her father’s plan. “The teachers advised her to keep quiet for the time being and voice her protest on the day of the wedding,” said Haque.

“She took a courageous decision and we will support her in every way if she wants to continue her education,” the headmaster added.

Malda district police chief Dilip Mondal said though police intervention had put a stop to the marriage for now, there was no guarantee that Fatima’s parents would not make another attempt.

“A police picket has been set up in front of Sadiqul’s house to keep a close watch on the family,” said Mondal.