Women threatened for refusing childhood marriages

Two women, who refused to accept their childhood marriages, have been accorded police protection after they allegedly received threats from members of their communities. Santara, 23, a resident of Manpuria village, has lodged a complaint alleging that she is being pressurised by her community after she refused to follow the diktats of a panchayat to return to her husband Dinesh Meena's home. The woman lecturer, who was married to Meena 14 years ago, was given this order by the panchayat on June 16. "The girl gave a complaint to me yesterday seeking police protection.... She said that the local community was pressuring her and her parents to go to her husband's house for which she is not ready," SP Dausa S N Khinchi said. "As per the girl's claim, it was a child marriage and not acceptable to her," he said. Her complaint has been forwarded to Nagal Rajawatan police station and three policemen have been deputed for protecting the woman and her family, another official said. "The matter is under investigation. We are verifying the allegations made by her," he added. In another case, Rekha Choudhary, 20, a resident of Boyal village of the district, has alleged of continuously receiving threats from her in-laws since August last year. "I complained to the administration after which the police provided me protection yesterday," Rekha said, claiming that the community panchayat has been taking the side of the groom's family. Making a point as to why it was not possible for her to maintain the relationship, Rekha said being an "educated girl who wanted to pursue a bright career," she could not pair up with somebody who is allegedly careless and irresponsible towards his future. A police official said the matter has been taken up seriously and stern warning has been issued to the girl's in-laws. This is the third such case in Jodhpur district where girls, married in childhood, sought to nullify their relationships due to different reasons. On June 12, Shobha Choudhary, 23, had moved the Rajasthan High Court alleging that a caste panchayat had threatened to expel her family from the village and had slapped a fine of Rs. nine lakh on them when she tried to get her marriage annulled.