The Karnataka Child Rights Observatory (KCRO), an alliance of organisations working for the protection and promotion of children’s rights, has written an open letter to chief minister Siddaramaiah, demanding immediate legal action and a comprehensive public awareness campaign following a disturbing case of attempted child marriage in Chitradurga district.

The incident, which occurred in Reddihalli Gollarahatti village of Challakere Taluk, involved a 15-year-old girl who was reportedly assaulted by her family members and forcibly tied in an attempt to perform a child marriage. A video of the event, which surfaced on social media and has been widely circulated, shows the minor girl resisting and crying out for help, saying, “Save me, I don’t want this marriage,” before collapsing to the ground. Despite her cries, family members continued the assault and attempted to forcibly tie the wedding thread.

“This is not only an inhumane act but a grave violation of the child’s rights,” KCRO stated in its letter. “Despite ongoing government efforts, such as awareness campaigns and legal frameworks to prevent child marriage, incidents like this expose gaps in enforcement, particularly in rural and marginalized areas.”

Key Demands of KCRO:

• Strict legal action under laws including the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006), the Juvenile Justice Act (2015), and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
• A statewide awareness campaign to educate the public about the dangers and illegality of child marriage.
• Empowerment of enforcement bodies like Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and better training for law enforcement officials in handling such sensitive cases.
• Community engagement programmes involving local leaders to challenge outdated customs and promote the value of girl child education.
• A monitoring system to ensure timely action and accountability in cases involving violations of child rights.

The organisation also praised those who recorded and circulated the video, which brought attention to the incident. The footage shows bystanders, some of whom appear to support the act, while a few voices can be heard warning, “This is illegal, you’ll be jailed for this.” KCRO called this “a small yet hopeful sign” of awareness emerging at the grassroots level.

The organisation emphasised that districts with low development indicators remain hotspots for child marriage and teenage pregnancy. It reiterated that recent directives from the chief minister to district officials to combat such practices must be backed by strong follow-through.

“Let this case be a turning point,” KCRO urged. “We must protect every girl child’s right to education, safety, and dignity.”

The letter has been endorsed by multiple child rights organisations and coalitions across Karnataka.

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