Jagatsinghpur: The bid to marry off a minor girl in contravention of legal provisions was averted in Balikuda police limits, thanks to the joint intervention by a child protection unit and the cops.

As it was a case of child marriage and unlawful, the marriage was stopped midway. The parents of both the groom and the bride were prevailed upon not to solemnise the marriage. There was show of initial opposition as they were not aware of legal provisions which bar the marriage of minors. Later, the "unwilling" parents relented. "Both the parents agreed to wait till the girl attains marriageable age," said district child development programme officer Sarala Devi.

"Both the groom and the bride had not attained their marriageable ages. The parents of both of them gave us in writing till their children attain the legally permissible age," she said.

"According to law, marriage of a boy less than 21 and girl below 18 years is a crime under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, that attracts two years rigorous imprisonment or Rs 1 lakh fine or both," she said.

"A section of local people from the village had apprised us of the proposed marriage and sought our intervention to stop the marriage from taking place. We prevented the marriage with assistance of local police," she said.

"The abhorrent practice of child marriage is prevalent in specific seaside pockets of Jagatsinghpur district. Poverty coupled with ignorance of illiterate parents has all contributed for the prevalence of such illegal practice. Ironically, the majority of parents are unaware of legal provisions of child marriage restraint act, which is a cognisable offence," said child rights' activist Biraja Kumar Pati.

Burglars held

Four burglars were arrested from Posco transit colony in Badabagapur village in Kujang police limits while the goons were trying to steal wooden door frames from the houses. The colony had been set up to house people who were allegedly ostracized by opponents of the project.