Assam: According to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Assam Police have arrested over 1,800 people so far on Friday in a massive crackdown on child marriage.
The crackdown began early in the morning across the state and will last three to four days, Sarma said on the sidelines of a programme here.
Since the state cabinet decided to take action on January 23, the police had registered 4,004 cases of child marriage in less than a fortnight, with the arrest of offenders and the simultaneous launch of an extensive awareness campaign.
The chief minister stated that the crackdown was ongoing and that a clear picture of the number of arrests and the districts from which they were made would be available by evening.
So far, the most arrests have been made in Dhubri, where 370 cases have been registered, followed by 110 in Barpeta and 100 in Nagaon.
Those who have married girls under the age of 14 will face charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, while those who have married girls between the ages of 14 and 18 will face charges under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
They will be arrested, and their marriages will be declared unconstitutional.
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If the boy is under the age of 14, he will be sent to a reform house because minors cannot be tried in court.
Priests, kazis, and family members involved in such marriages will also face charges, Sarma previously stated.
Meanwhile, during a massive anti-child marriage drive in Guwahati on Thursday night, police arrested 53 people. Notably, Hatigaon and Dispur police have arrested the greatest number of suspected child brides.
According to National Family Health Survey data, Assam has a high rate of maternal and infant mortality, with child marriage being the leading cause, accounting for 31% of marriages registered in the state.
Dhubri had the most recent cases of child marriage (4,004), with 370, followed by Hojai (255), Udalguri (235), Morigaon (224), and Kokrajhar (204).
Only one case was reported in Hailakandi district, while 24 were reported in Dima Hasao and 35 in Cachar.
