Survivor Saba's Nightmare Child Marriage

Saba and her "husband" during the child marriage

Our social workers visited Saba (rescued from a brothel in Kolkata in February 2023 when she was 15 years old) at her home in Kolkata. Saba had recently returned from Kashmir. She shared her heartbreaking story with us.

When she just turned 17 and was living with her parents in Kolkata, a woman approached Saba's parents with a marriage proposal. The man was from Kashmir and was willing to pay one lakh for Saba. Saba's parents agreed. The neighbor pocketed Rs. 60,000 and gave Saba's parents Rs. 40,000 (which they claim they spent on her wedding).

The groom made the trip to Kolkata with his family and relatives. Saba met her husband for the first time on their wedding day. Saba learned that he was 27 years older than her and had a physical disability—shorter left limbs.

After the wedding, Saba left for Kashmir with her husband.

A few days into the marriage, her husband began to physically abuse her. Saba tried to reason with him and begged him to stop, but he refused, and the abuse continued. When it got unbearable, Saba went to a police station and filed a domestic violence complaint against her husband. At the police station she discovered that her husband was already married and that his first wife had also filed a domestic violence complaint against him. Saba left her husband and stayed with the woman who had arranged her marriage—the same woman who sold Saba.

A few weeks ago, Saba returned to Kolkata. She shared that she would soon appear in court in Kashmir for her domestic violence case hearing. Since Saba is still a minor, we hope a child marriage case will be filed against her husband. Our team in Kolkata informed the authorities about Saba's marriage and presented them with evidence, including wedding photos and videos. We are waiting for them to take action.

Being married to a much older disabled and abusive man has taken its toll on 17-year-old Saba. She shows signs of depression and anger. Our legal team is fighting for justice, and our social workers are working on a rehabilitation plan for Saba.