Assam Crackdown: 32 Arrested in Sribhumi Special Drive Against Child Marriage
Assam police arrest 32 people in Sribhumi district as part of a massive state-wide drive to eradicate child marriage.
In a decisive move to protect the future of young girls, the Assam police have launched a massive enforcement operation against the illegal practice of child marriage. In a targeted special drive conducted in the Sribhumi district, authorities have registered 28 separate cases and apprehended 32 individuals.
Midnight Raids and Major Arrests
The operation, which took place on the night of October 26, was a coordinated effort across various parts of the Sribhumi district. According to Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl. SP) Pranab Jyoti Kalita, the drive aimed to catch both the primary perpetrators and those who facilitate these illegal unions.
Of the 32 people arrested, 28 have been identified as the principal offenders, while four others have been detained as abettors. Addl. SP Kalita confirmed that all the accused have been produced before the local courts to face legal proceedings.
"As 28 cases have been registered, depending on the requirements of each case, we applied for police remand. In some cases, police custody has been granted by the court, and the remaining legal procedures will follow," stated Addl. SP Kalita.
A State-Wide War on Child Marriage
The actions in Sribhumi are part of a larger, more aggressive campaign spearheaded by the state government. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has made it clear that the state will not tolerate the practice of underage marriage, vowing a complete eradication of the custom.
The Chief Minister revealed that the crackdown has already seen over 500 people detained across the state. Expressing his determination on the social media platform X, Sarma declared, "No one will now be able to shackle the dreams of our daughters in chains." He emphasized that the government's efforts will persist until child marriage is entirely wiped out from Assam.
Dhubri Emerges as a Hotspot
While the recent drive in Sribhumi has sent a strong message, the Dhubri district has recorded the highest number of detentions in this renewed push. Following the Chief Minister's directives, police in Dhubri have detained 63 individuals across nine different police stations.
The detentions in Dhubri are particularly notable as they include not only the primary offenders but also parents and guardians who allegedly facilitated the marriages. The breakdown of detentions across the district 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
This intensified police activity underscores a systemic shift in Assam's approach to child marriage, moving from mere monitoring to active arrests and legal prosecution of all involved parties.