Corruption within the local administration is obstructing efforts to combat child marriage, as a video of a Child Protection Officer accepting a bribe circulates virally online.
The incident, which took place in Barzana, Abhayapuri, involved two employees of Bongaigaon's child protection officer's office who threatened to expose a child marriage case.
The situation was captured on a hidden camera and subsequently spread on social media, causing public outrage.
The marriage in question was between the son of the late Sarahaf Ali of Barzana and a minor girl.
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The incident was reported by two employees of the child protection officer's office in the district, Neel Kamal Medhi and Dilwar Hussain, who later visited the groom's house and demanded a bribe of Rs 70,000 under the threat of exposing the child marriage.
The groom's mother was shown giving the first instalment of ten thousand in the video, followed by a second instalment of Rs 30,000.
The incident has caused a major uproar in Bongaigaon, particularly as the Chief Minister has taken a stern stance against child marriage, corruption and bribery.
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