Assam Govt Launches Massive Crackdown Against Child Marriages, Over 1,800 Arrested So Far

Assam Police has arrested over 1,800 individuals in connection with child marriage-related cases across the state as part of a major crackdown against child marriages.

The arrests are being made under the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.

The state-wide operation was launched on Thursday (2 February) night, following directions from Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has asked the police to "act with a spirit of zero tolerance" for this crime against women.

"State wide arrests are presently underway against those violating provisions of Prohibhiton of Child Marriage Act . 1800 + have been arrested so far. I have asked Assam Police to act with a spirit of zero tolerance against the unpardonable and heinous crime on women," CM Sarma tweeted on Friday (3 February).

"Till Friday morning, 1,793 persons have been arrested by police across the state," ANI quoted Prasanta Kumar Bhuyan, Inspector General of Police (IGP) (L&O) and spokesperson of Assam police, as saying.

The crackdown is in response to a National Family Health Survey-5 report, which showed that 31 per cent of women in the 20-24 age group in Assam were married before the age of 18, higher than the national average of 23 per cent.

The Chief Minister has appealed to the public to support the government's efforts to end child marriage.