Assam child-marriage crackdown: 524 arrested in a week, 441 cases filed

Police in India's Assam state have arrested more than 500 people in a week in a crackdown on child marriage.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that by 5pm on Tuesday, October 27, 524 people had been arrested across the state and 441 cases had been registered.

The chief minister said no one involved in a social offence such as child marriage would be spared, and spoke of turning Assam into a child-marriage-free state.

Under the special drive, which began in 2023, Assam police have been conducting operations continuously in different districts of the state.

The report said action is being taken not only against grooms who married minors, but also against people accused of arranging, assisting or conducting such marriages.

On Tuesday, 18 people were arrested under Sadar police station in Dhubri district. A further 46 were detained in operations in Gauripur, Golakganj, Agomoni, Sapatgram, Bilasipara, Chapar and Fakirganj.

On the same day, police raided the Juria area of Nagaon district after receiving word of a possible child marriage, and arrested five people there.

In the Moranhat area of Charaideo district, police arrested two people in a child-marriage case. In the Boko-Chhaygaon area, 12 people were detained in overnight operations in Kolhikash, Sontali, Mandira and other localities.

Police sources said those arrested include grooms who married underage brides and parents and guardians accused of arranging or assisting those marriages.

Cases have been filed against those arrested under the law prohibiting child marriage.