By Sagaya Fernando | April 16, 2025

 

 Illustrative image 

Udaipur, Rajasthan: In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage across India, a man from Udaipur allegedly mortgaged his nine-year-old son to a herdsman in Gujarat in order to pay for his second marriage. The boy was rescued after nearly 10 months by a courageous government school teacher, who tracked down and confronted the perpetrators in a daring operation.

The incident took place in the Ambadeh area of Kotada tehsil, located in Udaipur, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, formerly the capital of the historic Mewar Kingdom. Udaipur is renowned for its palaces and lakes, but this disturbing case has exposed the dark underside of tribal customs still prevalent in certain rural regions.

Child Used as Collateral for Daapa Payment

According to police, the child’s father, identified as Mirkha, had become engaged to a woman named Temi and started cohabiting with her. Local tribal elders, known as panchas, insisted that the couple marry in accordance with traditional customs. As part of the ritual, the groom was expected to pay a daapa -- a customary tax imposed by the bride’s family --amounting to ₹45,000 (approximately USD 540).

Unable to raise the amount, Mirkha allegedly mortgaged his nine-year-old son to a herdsman in Idar, a town in the neighbouring state of Gujarat, around June 2024. Over the following months, he made periodic instalment payments to the lender while the child remained in captivity. The boy was allowed only occasional contact with his family via phone.

Heroic Intervention by a School Teacher

The child’s plight came to light thanks to Durgaram Muwal, a government teacher at the Railway Training Government Higher Secondary School in Udaipur. On learning of the shocking arrangement, Durgaram decided to act. Despite the father having little information about the exact location of the lenders, the teacher managed to establish contact with them and arranged a visit under the pretext of meeting the child.

Accompanied by fellow educator Kunal Chaudhary, Durgaram travelled to Gujarat. Initially, the suspects misled the teachers and took them nearly 100 kilometres into a deserted forest area, before abandoning them and fleeing. Undeterred, the duo made inquiries in a nearby village, ultimately locating the house where several children -- including the nine-year-old boy -- were being kept.

A woman at the house falsely claimed all the children were hers, but Durgaram was able to identify and secure the release of the boy. However, as the two teachers attempted to leave with the child, they were pursued and attacked by the lenders for almost 10 kilometres. Despite the threat, they successfully escaped and brought the child back to safety in Udaipur.

Urgent Call for Justice

Although the child has been rescued, legal action is now being demanded against both the father and the lenders for child endangerment, trafficking, and illegal captivity. Local authorities have not yet confirmed any arrests, but an investigation is reportedly underway.

This harrowing case underscores the continued challenges of tribal customs, poverty, and weak enforcement of child protection laws in rural India. Advocacy groups have called for urgent reforms and stronger legal action to prevent such incidents from recurring.