New Delhi, June 19 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday stepped in to protect a 16-year-old girl from Bihar who alleged she was forcibly married to a man twice her age and later subjected to abuse, ordering protection for the girl and her friend who helped her escape the marriage and now faces a kidnapping charge. A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan directed the Director General of Police, Bihar, and the Delhi Police Commissioner to ensure the safety of both the girl and her friend. They were also asked to provide them with emergency contact numbers to be used in case of any exigency. The girl approached the top court through her friend, seeking annulment of the marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and protection from any coercive action. According to the petition, the girl had recently taken her Class 10 board exams when she was married off on December 9, 2024, under pressure from her family. The groom, a civil contractor aged about 33, allegedly insisted on the marriage as repayment for financial support extended to her family. P4...