A Tense Situation Exists In Dhubri As A Result Of The Child Marriage Crackdown In Assam’s Over 2,000 Arrests

The Assam government launched a big campaign against underage marriages on February 2, as women protested in large numbers against the detention of their husbands and kids. After police used lathi charges to scatter the ladies who had congregated in front of the Tamarha Police Station, tension persisted in the Dhubri district. They were pleading for their relatives’ freedom.

This February 3 marked the start of a six-day statewide crackdown that the chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had previously announced. 2,257 people have been detained thus far.

A Barpeta district resident who wished to remain anonymous claimed that her son had run off with a young girl.

4,004 cases have already been filed and more than 2,000 people have been arrested. Police stated that they had a list of 8,000 suspects and that the search will go on. 51 purohits and Kazis who performed these wedding rituals in religious settings have been detained by the authorities.

Biswanath district had the most arrests (137) up till February 2 night, followed by Dhubri (126), Baksa (120), Barpeta (114), and Kokrajhar (96).

The state cabinet recently decided that cases under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 would be filed against those who had married girls between the ages of 14 and 18. Those who had married girls younger than 14 would be charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (Pocso) Act.

The police are to act in a spirit of zero tolerance against the unpardonable and horrific crime on women, according to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Assam has a high prevalence of maternal and infant mortality, with child marriage serving as the main contributing factor because, on average, 31% of marriages recorded in the state take place when the couple is under the legal marriage age.

News Mania Desk