Assam police arrests over 2,000 over child marriages

Guwahati: Assam government launched a massive crackdown on child marriages on Thursday and over 2,000 people were arrested today. It will continue for the next few days.

Senior Assam Police officer GP Singh told NDTV that the department has arrested 2,044 people as per the instructions given by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "All the district police chiefs were told to get in touch with respective village defence parties and prominent members of various communities. We have come across reports of child marriage in various parts of the state."

The district police chiefs were asked to probe reports of child marriages in the last three years. In two days, over 4,000 cases were registered on the basis of data. "In the last two days, 4,074 child marriage cases were registered across Assam," said the official. Biswanath, Dhubri, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, and Hojai districts recorded the highest arrests.

CM Sarma tweeted earlier on Friday that he has asked Assam police to act with a spirit of zero tolerance against the unpardonable and heinous crime on women. "State-wide arrests are presently underway against those violating provisions of the Prohibhiton of Child Marriage Act." He added that the war against child marriage will be secular and no single community will be targeted.