Malda Girl Forced to Quit School After She Stops Child Marriage

Khatun stopped the wedding of a minor and as a result, she was forced to stay away from school.

Fearing revenge by locals, Beauty Khatun has been unable to attend school. (Photo: Rajib Ghosh/The Quint)

Beauty Khatun, a 13-year-old girl from Malda district in West Bengal, has been barred from attending her school. Her crime? She stopped a child marriage.

Khatun attended a wedding on 17 January and noticed that the bride was a minor. She raised alarm against the marriage and informed the authorities. Her protests caused the village elders to turn their backs against her.

Khatun was even beaten up and had to be hospitalised. However, she filed a police complaint from the hospital that led to the arrest of the bride's guardians, groom and some relatives.

Due to her bravery, Khatun is now known as the 'Malala of Malda'. She was felicitated at her home on 24 February by the block development officer. On International Women's Day, Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee also felicitated her.

(With video inputs from Rajib Ghosh)

Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim