Assam: 416 People Arrested Within 24 Hours; The Reason Will Shock You

In a major crackdown against child marriage, the Assam government has arrested 416 individuals in the third phase of its campaign. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on December 22, 2024, that the arrests were made overnight from December 21 to 22, with 335 cases registered by the police. The arrested individuals will be presented in court on Sunday.

Assam's Strict Stance Against Child Marriage

The Assam government under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has been aggressively working towards the eradication of child marriage. In a recent post on X, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma reiterated his commitment towards the end of this social evil, and bold steps would continue till the problem is completely done away with.

This is the third phase of the campaign against child marriage in Assam, after conducting two earlier phases in February and October 2023. In the first phase, 4,515 cases were registered, while 3,483 people were arrested. In the second phase, 710 cases were registered, which led to 915 arrests.

Child marriage cases are on the decline

A report released on July 17, International Justice Day, highlighted the impact of Assam’s efforts. It revealed an 81% reduction in child marriage cases across 20 districts of the state between 2021-22 and 2023-24, attributing this success to the government’s legal intervention strategy.

CM Sarma’s Determination

The Assam government had earlier this year repealed the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935, as part of its larger strategy against child marriage. Despite opposition in the Assembly, CM Sarma declared that he would ensure child marriage is eradicated during his tenure. He firmly stated, "As long as I am alive, I will not allow child marriage in Assam."