Patna, April 8: In a significant operation, Rohtas Police busted an alleged 'bride-buying' racket in the Bikramganj area of Bihar, detaining 24 individuals, including eight women, and rescuing a minor girl. The late-night raid took place on Tuesday at a marriage hall, where police intervened just as a wedding involving a minor was about to be conducted. Authorities seized approximately Rs 1 lakh in cash and jewelry from the scene.

The case centers around a minor girl from Chakia in Buxar district, who was reportedly being married off to a man from Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh. Based on intelligence, authorities had been alerted to a financially struggling family being enticed with promises to arrange the marriage. The Bikramganj Police, acting on the tip-off, carried out the raid and halted the ceremony, leading to significant disruption at the venue. Police detained individuals from both the bride's and groom's sides, who are currently under interrogation to uncover the full scope of the operation.

“A total of 24 individuals, including eight women, have been detained. All are being questioned, and a thorough investigation is underway,” said Sindhu Shekhar Singh, SDPO Bikramganj. Investigators suspect the involvement of an organized network targeting impoverished families, offering financial incentives to arrange marriages of minor girls to men from other states.

The groom's family, however, has denied knowing the girl’s age. "We came from Madhya Pradesh for our son's wedding and were unaware that the girl was a minor. We intended to proceed with the marriage according to custom," stated the groom's father.

Similar cases have been reported in the region, where young girls are trafficked under the guise of marriage, often to states like Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. In a recent joint operation, over 80 individuals were detained during a raid in the Dawath area. This operation highlights the ongoing challenge of tackling child marriage and trafficking rings that operate under the cover of social traditions. Authorities have intensified efforts to dismantle these networks and bring the perpetrators to justice.