DJ Halli: The Child Helpline team prevented the marriage of a 17-year-old girl at Shampura in DJ Halli area on Wednesday night.

According to the police, her family was preparing to marry her off to a Chennai-based man in the second week of February. The victim is a daughter of daily wage workers.

Neighbours who grew curious after noticing the marriage arrangements being made at the house, casually checked with some family members and learnt that the girl, a minor, was about to get married. They alerted the Child Helpline and the police, who went to the spot and stopped the arrangements.

A senior police officer said, “We have asked the parents to wait till the girl attains 18 years of age and then proceed with the marriage. They were also told that getting a minor girl married was against the law. For now, we have not registered a case. The Child Welfare Committee has summoned the parents on Thursday. The girl will be questioned to ascertain if she was forced to agree to the marriage.”