Assam's War on Child Marriage: 524 Arrested in Massive State-Wide Crackdown
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announces massive crackdown on child marriage in Assam with over 500 arrests. Dhubri district sees highest detentions.
The Assam government has launched a relentless offensive against the illegal practice of child marriage, resulting in the arrest of 524 individuals and the registration of 441 cases across the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has made it clear that the administration will show zero tolerance toward this "heinous crime," vowing that no one involved in such practices will be spared.
CM Sarma Issues Stern Warning
Taking to the social media platform X, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma provided a detailed update on the progress of the Assam child marriage crackdown. According to the figures shared by the CM, as of 5:00 PM on Tuesday, the police had already apprehended 524 culprits.
"We will not spare anyone involved in this heinous crime and ensure that Assam is free from Child Marriage," the Chief Minister stated, emphasizing the government's commitment to eradicating the practice entirely from the region.
Dhubri District: The Epicenter of Detentions
While the operation is state-wide, Dhubri district has emerged as a primary focal point of the crackdown, recording the highest number of detentions. Following direct orders from the Chief Minister, police in Dhubri have detained 63 people across nine different police stations.
The crackdown in Dhubri is comprehensive, targeting not just the immediate culprits but also the facilitators. The detainees reportedly include:
- Individuals directly involved in organizing the child marriages.
- Parents who consented to or forced the marriages.
- Guardians who played a role in the illegal unions.
Breakdown of Detentions in Dhubri
The police operation in Dhubri has been surgical, with arrests spread across various jurisdictions. The distribution of detentions is as follows:
- Dhubri Sadar: 18 people
- Golakganj: 15 people
- Bilasipara: 9 people
- Gauripur: 8 people
- Chapar: 5 people
- Fakirganj: 5 people
- Tamarhat: 2 people
- Agomoni: 1 person
A Pattern of Enforcement
This is not the first time Dhubri has been a major site for such operations. During a previous state-wide drive on December 22, 2024, the district saw 68 arrests. Additionally, 42 people were apprehended from the South Salmara-Mankachar district during that same period.
As the current operation continues to unfold, authorities expect the number of detainees to rise further. The renewed push signals a systemic effort by the Assam government to dismantle the social structures that allow child marriage to persist, with police operations remaining active across the state.