Complaint against parents

TT, Jalpaiguri, April 14: The neighbour of a couple has filed a complaint at the district Childline alleging that they had forcibly married off their 14-year-old daughter in Uttar Pradesh.

Satyapriya Roy, who filed the complaint, said the couple had gone to Mathura in Uttar Pradesh on March 10, along with their son and two daughters, both minors. "Early this month, the parents came back with the boy but the daughters were not with them. When we asked about the girls, their mother misbehaved and did not share any information. Other neighbours suspect the couple had married off their elder daughter in Mathura."

"When asked for her daughter's contact number, the woman refused. That is why a complaint was filed," another resident said.

Sanjoy Chakraborty, the director of Jalpaiguri Childline, said: "We are writing to the Child Welfare Committee of the district and will also seek help of Kotwali police.

The parents denied the allegation and said they had kept their daughters at a relative's place in Mathura and would bring them back soon, sources said. The civic councillor of ward 2 said he had spoken to the elder daughter who confirmed her marriage.