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Crime
16-Year-Old Ballia Girl Stops Arranged Marriage After Calling Child Helpline
✍️ TOI City
🗓 06 Nov 2026, 10:17 AM
👁 18
A 16‑year‑old girl from Ballia contacted the child helpline to halt an arranged marriage with a 25‑year‑old man. Officials and police intervened, and both families agreed to cancel the wedding and sign undertakings to comply with the law.
A 16‑year‑old girl in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, reached out to the child helpline to stop an arranged marriage with a 25‑year‑old man. She disclosed her under‑age status and the imminent wedding date.
The helpline forwarded the information to local authorities, who promptly visited the families. Officials explained the legal ramifications of child marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
After counseling, both families agreed to cancel the wedding. They signed undertakings to ensure compliance with the law and to prevent future violations.
The incident highlights the role of child helplines and local police in safeguarding minors from illegal marriages.
The helpline forwarded the information to local authorities, who promptly visited the families. Officials explained the legal ramifications of child marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
After counseling, both families agreed to cancel the wedding. They signed undertakings to ensure compliance with the law and to prevent future violations.
The incident highlights the role of child helplines and local police in safeguarding minors from illegal marriages.