In a major move to combat child marriage in Assam, the state police have arrested 416 people in a massive crackdown. This action was taken after the state government decided to take strict measures against those involved in child marriages, which are illegal in India.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the arrests and highlighted that 335 cases have been registered as part of this operation. The arrested individuals are scheduled to appear in court today. In his message on social media, Sarma stated, “Assam continues its fight against child marriage. We will continue to take bold steps to end this social evil.”
#Assam continues its fight against child marriage.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) December 22, 2024
In Phase 3 operations launched on the night of Dec 21-22, 416 arrests were made and 335 cases registered.
The arrested individuals will be produced in court today.
We will continue to take bold steps to end this social evil!…
This crackdown follows two earlier phases of action against child marriage in 2023. In the first phase launched in February, 3,483 people were arrested and 4,515 cases were registered. The second phase in October saw 915 arrests and 710 cases registered.
The Assam government’s ongoing campaign aims to protect minors and uphold their rights, reflecting a strong commitment to eradicating child marriage, which has been a persistent social challenge in the region.