LAMJUNG: The District Police Office in Lamjung has reported an increase in the number cases of child marriages - that were prevented by the authorities -  of late as Lamjung denizens come together against the social anomaly.

During the seven months of the current fiscal year, aware residents informed authorities about four child marriage arrangements and the police personnel thwarted such initiatives.

Earlier, the residents barely tipped off the DPO as statistics show that only one case was reported to police last year. According to Assistant Sub-Inspector Nanda Kumari Adhikari, the local administration has joined hands with youth clubs, civil society and mother’s group to curb the social malpractice.

Recently, a 13-year-old minor girl from Lamjung Besishahar-3 was promised to a 22-year-old man. However, the girl’s neighbour tipped off officials about the ceremony a day prior to the marriage.

Lamjung police summoned the girl’s guardians and her to the DPO and made them aware of the legal consequences if they proceeded with their plans and the marriage was called off.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Yadav Dhakal, looking at the rise in the number of reported cases, it can be asserted that the district witnesses unreported instances of child marriages in larger numbers.

“Although most of the instances of child marriage happen in indigenous and marginalised communities, we have also received informal reports of such social anomalies prevailing in Khas Community,” DSP Dhakal said.

As per the law, persons below 20 years of age are deemed ineligible to marry. However, rural hilly areas of Nepal still witness child marriages that happen out of pressure from parents, elopement and lack of awareness on general health and legal duties among the residents.