A heart-wrenching tale of betrayal has emerged from Palamu, Jharkhand, where a 13-year-old girl endured two months of torment after her own mother arranged her marriage to a man more than four decades her senior. The mother then vanished with her paramour, leaving the child in peril until the father’s heroic intervention.
According to the victim’s statement, her mother lied about the father’s demise while he toiled in Surat. Deceived by this falsehood, the girl was coerced into wedding Prabhakar Kumar Mishra, 55, from Bishrampur. Mishra held her against her will in a rented accommodation in Medininagar, treating her as a prisoner.
The father’s return from Gujarat unraveled the mother’s cruel plot. Unable to find his daughter at home, he tracked her down, rescued her, and heard the full extent of her suffering upon their return. This revelation prompted immediate police involvement.
Led by Superintendent of Police Reeshma Rameshan, officers from Sadar thana conducted a swift operation, apprehending Mishra and securing the girl’s freedom. She was placed under the care of the Child Welfare Committee, where psychological support is underway. Legal proceedings invoke the stringent POCSO Act, anti-child marriage laws, and abduction clauses.
Meanwhile, the absconding mother and her boyfriend are the focus of an ongoing manhunt. This disturbing episode underscores deep societal issues like child trafficking disguised as marriage and the betrayal by those meant to protect. Local leaders vow enhanced patrols and education drives to safeguard minors.
As the girl begins her recovery, the community rallies in support, demanding exemplary punishment to deter future crimes. The father’s determination stands as a beacon of hope amid this darkness.