Guwahati: The second round of crackdown against child marriage started in Assam from midnight of October 2. So far, Assam Police has arrested over 300 persons involved in child marriage. Assam Police would Pre-launch the crackdown soon against child marriage in the State. It was earlier informed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Assam Police carried out raids in multiple locations of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Dhubri, Karimganj on October 2 midnight. A total of 24 people were arrested from Gossaigaon, Serfanguri, Kachugaon and Bogoribari in Kokrajhar district. While 39 people were arrested from Bongaigaon. The highest number of 185 persons were arrested from Muslim-dominated Dhubri district.
Dhubri reported the maximum number of arrests, with 42 arrests made in Golakganj, 7 in Agomoni, 12 arrests in Tamarhat, 42 arrested in Gouripur, 36 in Bilasipara, 11 arrested in Sapatgram and 6 in Chapar.
Besides Dhubri, 59 people were arrested from Hailakandi, 49 were arrested from Karimganj district of Southern Assam. 30 persons each were arrested from Morigaon and Kamrup districts.
It should be mentioned that CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, on September 9, announced the relaunch of crackdown against child marriage. He said that around 3000 persons involved in child marriage will be arrested soon.
Earlier in February 2023, Assam Police arrested around 4000 persons accused in child marriage.
Assam Police had registered 4,004 cases of child marriage based on complaints and data provided by competent authorities. All these cases were registered in less than a fortnight since the State cabinet decided on January 23 to take stern action against child marriage, with the arrest of offenders and a simultaneous launch of an extensive awareness campaign against the dangerous impact of child marriage on a girl’s life and on society as a whole.
Of the 4,004 cases of child marriage registered recently, the highest was reported in Muslim-majority districts Dhubri (370), Hojai (255) and Morigaon (224). A large number of cases were registered in Udalguri (235) and Kokrajhar (204) districts with a substantial number of Muslim populations.
