Minor boy marries 23-year-old woman

Kurnool: In a peculiar incident, a 16-year-old minor boy married a 23-year-old girl at Upparahal village in Mantralayam on April 26 and the incident came to light on Friday.

On receipt of the information, when the officials reached the village, the bride and bridegroom along with their parents fled the village, leaving old aged women at the house. Joint Collector Rama Swamy and women and child welfare assistant project director (APD) P Vijaya enquiring about the whereabouts of newlywed couple and their parents.

The Joint Collector also directed police to enquire about the incident. Following this, the police also formed teams and intensified searches at their relative’s houses. Speaking to The Hans India, APD P Vijaya said that one Basavaraj, a native of Upparhal village in Kowthalam mandal, reportedly married his minor son with a 23-year-old girl, a native of Chanakyapuri colony in Ballari of Karnataka state.

According to sources, Basavaraj parents went to Bengaluru in search of livelihood, where they met the girl’s parents. As the bond between the two families become harmonious, Basavaraj’s father planned to marry. With this proposal, both families performed marriage in Ballari on April 26, said the APD.

However, the matter was spread like wildfire in village after their return. Fearing arrests, the parents and newlywed couple fled the village. Vijaya said we spoke to the sarpanch and police to know the whereabouts of couple. She said the newlywed couple would be counselled once they were caught.