In a significant operation, Rohtas Police uncovered an alleged ‘bride-buying’ scheme, detaining 24 individuals, including eight women, and saving a minor girl during a late-night raid in the Bikramganj area of Bihar. Acting on a tip-off, the police raided a marriage hall where a minor girl’s wedding was taking place. The raid resulted in the confiscation of approximately Rs 1 lakh in cash and jewelry from the location.
The case involves a minor girl from Chakia in Buxar district, who was being married to a youth from Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh, as per an official statement. Authorities received information that a financially vulnerable family was being enticed with incentives to arrange the marriage. A team from Bikramganj Police Station swiftly intervened, disrupting the ceremony and causing chaos at the scene.
Police have detained individuals from both the bride’s and groom’s families for interrogation to uncover the full extent of the network. “A total of 24 individuals, including eight women, have been taken into custody. All are being questioned, and the matter is under serious investigation,” stated Sindhu Shekhar Singh, SDPO Bikramganj. Investigators suspect the involvement of an organized racket targeting poor families by offering inducements to marry off minor girls to men from different states.
The groom’s family, however, denied any knowledge of the girl’s age. “We came from Madhya Pradesh for our son’s wedding and were unaware that the girl was a minor. We intended to conduct the marriage as per customs,” mentioned the groom’s father. Authorities highlighted previous cases in the region involving the trafficking of young girls disguised as marriages, especially to states like Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh through brokers.
A recent joint operation by police and administrative teams in the Dawath area led to the detention of over 80 individuals in a similar crackdown. This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of child marriage and trafficking networks operating under the guise of social traditions, prompting authorities to escalate efforts to dismantle such syndicates.
