14-year-old forced into marriage with 45-year-old in Bengal, police rescue girl

A 14-year-old girl from Balia Danga in the Kotwali police station area of Nabadwip, Nadia, was allegedly forced into marriage with a 45-year-old man, Budhadeb Ghosh, on January 16. Reports indicate that Ghosh took the minor girl from her home to his residence in Idrapur, where her grandmother arranged the marriage. The girl's mother is deceased, and the grandmother is said to have taken the decision on behalf of the family. The minor reportedly did not consent to the marriage.

After the wedding, the girl informed her older sister about the situation. The sister, who lives in Nabadwip, visited Ghosh's house to confront him about the forced marriage. Upon learning of the situation, the sister filed a written complaint at the Nabadwip police station. The complaint led to the police rescuing the minor girl from Ghosh’s residence, but no arrests have been made as of yet.

Since the complaint was filed, the victim's sister has been facing threats from the accused. The sister reported that these threats have continued, including while she has been staying at her in-laws’ house. The family is concerned for their safety due to the ongoing intimidation. Despite these threats, the sister remains firm in seeking justice for her younger sibling.

The Nabadwip police have initiated an investigation into the incident. However, no suspects have been arrested so far. The police have not released further details about the progress of the investigation. Local authorities have emphasized that they are taking the case seriously, but community members are calling for immediate legal action.