Assam Child Marriage Crackdown: 80 Arrested, Including 54 Husbands
Dhubri police arrest 80 people, including 54 husbands, in a massive crackdown on child marriage under the POCSO and Child Marriage Acts.
In a massive blow to the illegal practice of underage weddings, the Assam police have launched a sweeping operation in the Dhubri district. A major Assam child marriage crackdown has resulted in the arrest of 80 individuals across 66 different cases, according to official reports.
The Scale of the Operation
Dhubri Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Debasish Borah revealed on Wednesday that the authorities are taking strict action to eradicate child marriage from the region. Out of the 80 people apprehended, a significant number—54 individuals—have been identified as the husbands in these illegal unions.
The SSP emphasized that this is part of a larger, statewide effort to protect minors and ensure that the law is upheld across Assam. The police have registered 66 separate cases to document these crimes and are currently utilizing police custody to conduct deep-dive interrogations.
Strict Legal Action Under POCSO and Child Marriage Acts
The police are not treating these as simple social issues but as serious criminal offenses. The arrests have been made under two stringent legal frameworks:
- The Prevention of Child Marriage Act: Targeting the act of marrying off minors and those who facilitate such unions.
- The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act: Ensuring that the sexual exploitation of children is dealt with through rigorous legal penalties.
Verification and Ongoing Investigations
SSP Borah provided clarity on the fluctuating numbers reported during the early stages of the operation. He noted that while preliminary reports had previously mentioned figures such as 67 and 64 arrests, a thorough verification process was conducted. Following this verification, the confirmed number of arrests has now climbed to 80 as of Wednesday morning.
"We are monitoring how the situation develops... They are being interrogated, and if any further information emerges, we will take appropriate action," stated SSP Debasish Borah.
What Happens Next?
The crackdown is far from over. The Dhubri police have indicated that the current list of 80 arrests is likely to grow. The primary goal of the ongoing interrogations is to uncover the wider network of individuals who may have encouraged, organized, or ignored these child marriages.
As the statewide operation continues, authorities are remaining vigilant, with the SSP warning that more arrests are imminent as new evidence comes to light during the investigation.