Four minor marriages stopped

DHARMAPURI: Four minor marriages were stopped by taluk officials of Dharmpuri and Pennagram, on Monday night. According to sources, based on information that parents of a 16-year-old girl, Banu (name changed) from Mittareddihalli village, were planning to marry her off to a person called Sakthivel from the same village, a team of officials from the Dharmapuri taluk office rushed to their house. After the team informed the parents of the girl about the evils of child marriage, they agreed to call off the wedding. They also prevented the marriage of another 16-year-old girl, Rani (name changed) from A Jettihalli and advised her parents to drop the plan.Meanwhile, another team from the Pennagaram taluk office prevented the marriages of Amudha (17) of Pathrahalli and Priya (16) of Parvathanahalli (names changed).As ordered by the officials, the parents of all the four girls subsequently submitted affidavits, agreeing to drop their plans to marry off their minor children, in the presence of collector R Lilly.