A young woman has had her child "marriage" legally annulled in northern Rajasthan state, in what is thought to be the first case of its kind in India.
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| Laxmi took action when her in-laws came to claim her |
Laxmi Sargara, 18, wed Rakesh when she was just one and he was three. She grew up with her own family, only finding out she was married when her in-laws came to claim her this month. Child marriages are illegal in India but are still common in many parts of the country, especially in rural and poorer communities.
"I was unhappy about the marriage. I told my parents who did not agree with me, then I sought help," Laxmi told Agence France Presse (AFP) news agency.
She knew nothing of her future life until a few days ago when her groom's family came to take her home with them to start her new life as Rakesh's wife.
"I was unhappy about the marriage. I told my parents who did not agree with me, then I sought help," Laxmi told Agence France Presse (AFP) news agency.
She knew nothing of her future life until a few days ago when her groom's family came to take her home with them to start her new life as Rakesh's wife.
After appealing to her parents Laxmi sought help from a local non-governmental organisation, the Sarathi Trust in Jodhpur city.
"She got depressed. She did not like the boy and was not ready to go ahead with her parents' decision," Sarathi Trust worker Kriti Bharti told AFP.
