Action against child marriages continues in Assam : 1,039 people arrested

14 Maulavis (A Muslim priest) who performed child marriages were also arrested

62% of the people who were arrested in the first phase of the campaign were Muslims

Guwahati (Assam) – 1,039 people have been arrested in the second phase of the campaign against child marriages in Assam. This campaign was implemented across the State on 3 rd October. 14 Maulavis are among those arrested. They are alleged to have performed many child marriages. As many as 741 crimes have been registered on 3 rd October. Chief Minister of the State Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that some more people may get arrested in this case.

More than 1,000 people were arrested in the second phase of a state-wide crackdown against child marriage in #Assam, Chief Minister #HimantaBiswaSarma said.https://t.co/dbZRTdDKcJ

— The Hindu (@the_hindu) October 3, 2023

Under the campaign which has been implemented now, actions were taken in 35 Districts. Most of the arrests have been made in Guwahati city, which comes under Kamrup (Metro). After this, 192 people were arrested in Dhubri, 142 in Barpeta, 59 in Hailakandi, 50 in Kamrup and 47 in Karimganj. Barpeta District Superintendent of Police Amitav Sinha said that all 142 people in the District were arrested overnight.

Even in the month of February this year, the Government had taken strict punitive action against child marriage in the State. In this, 3,141 people were arrested. Of these, 62.24% were Muslims, while the rest were Hindus or other communities, the Government informed.

There is no compromise with social evils – Chief Minister Sarma

Chief Minister Himant Biswa Sarma

After Chief Minister Himant Biswa Sarma declared that there would be no compromise with any social evil, the Assam Government launched a drive against child marriages. According to the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) website, an estimated 17% of the more than 6,20,000 pregnant women in Assam last year were teenage girls.

Editorial Perspective

Like the Assam Government, other Governments should also make efforts against social evils like child marriages.