Husband and mother arrested after minor alleges forced marriage and abuse in Malda

Police in Malda district arrested a man and the mother of a minor girl after a complaint alleging forced marriage and abuse was filed at Harishchandrapur Police Station. A case was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and both accused were taken into custody following the complaint lodged by the victim.

According to local sources, the incident took place in Harishchandrapur-II Block, where the ninth-grade student was allegedly forced by her mother to marry a local man around eight months ago. The victim alleged that the man was already married and that she was subjected to physical and mental abuse after the marriage. She further stated that she repeatedly returned to her parental home due to the alleged harassment.

The girl alleged that whenever she refused to return to her husband's residence, her mother attempted to force her back. On Monday night, she submitted a written complaint to the police. Officers arrested the husband the same night, while the girl's mother, who had allegedly gone into hiding, was arrested on Tuesday. Both accused were produced before a court on Wednesday, and the investigation is continuing.