Over 1800 Arrested in Assam for Involvement in Child Marriage

Guwahati: Over 1,800 people were reported to be arrested on Friday in Assam for their involvement in child marriage. This was part of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s tirade against child marriage in the state.

Sarma tweeted, “State-wide arrests are presently underway against those violating provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. 1800 + have been arrested so far.”

The Assam CM said he had asked the police to show zero tolerance in child marriage cases. “I have asked @assampolice to act with a spirit of zero tolerance against the unpardonable and heinous crime on women,” Sarma added in his tweet.

On Thursday, while speaking in the Nagaon district of Assam, the CM had said that thousands of men in Assam who married underage girls would be arrested.

Assam government started a major crackdown against child marriage in January 2023. Several districts of Assam like Nagaon had recorded a high percentage of child marriage (42 per cent) and women giving birth before reaching 18 years of age (15 per cent).