DADU: Police raided a marriage ceremony in a village near Phulji Station town, 14 kilometres from here, on Sunday and stopped a 22-year-old man from tying the knot with a 12-year-old girl.

Inspector Benazir Jamali, in-charge of women and child protection cell, took into custody the underage bride, Majida, daughter of Laiq Chandio, and the about-to-be groom Aqib Ali. They detained Nikah registrar Maulvi Abdul Jabbar and a suspect, Ajeeb Chandio. They were sent behind bars and the girl was brought to the women and child protection cell, said police.

SSP Irfan Ali Samoo told this correspondent that police took the action after receiving information about the underage marriage. The bride and the groom would be produced in court on Monday, he said.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2022