An administrative team faced strong resistance from villagers while attempting to stop a suspected child marriage in the Chainpur Police Station Area of Palamu district in Jharkhand on Friday.
The incident took place at the Radha Krishna Temple, Taleya Babhndi Village, where two minor girls were reportedly being married.
According to sources, the district administration had received confidential information that the marriage of two underage girls was being organised in Taleya Babhndi village.
Acting on the tip-off, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Chainpur, Pradeep Das, reached the spot along with a police team to stop the ceremony.
The officials intervened and successfully rescued the two minor girls from the venue. However, when the team was preparing to take the girls to a safe location, a large number of villagers and family members gathered at the site and surrounded the government vehicle.
The crowd strongly protested the action of the officials and soon the situation turned chaotic. Villagers allegedly pushed and scuffled with members of the administrative team and also attempted to damage the government vehicle.
Amid the commotion and confusion, the villagers and family members managed to snatch the two girls from the custody of the administrative team and fled from the spot. The incident created tension in the area.
Police personnel have since camped in the locality and an investigation into the matter has been initiated. The administration has stated that those involved in organising the child marriage and obstructing government work will be identified and strict action will be taken against them. Efforts are also underway to trace the two minor girls.
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