Child Marriage in Assam Live Updates - Assam Police Crackdown On Child Marriage

As the statewide crackdown against child marriage entered its second week, as many as 3,015 arrests have been made so far. This was informed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday.

Our crackdown against child marriage has entered it's second week with 3,015 arrests made so far. The drive against this social evil will continue. The positive side is that now people are coming out and surrendering before police.

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 13, 2023

The number of arrests in connection to child marriage cases in Assam has risen to 2,789, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed on Friday.

The Assam CM, who has been updating on the data daily on social media, informed that the number of arrests regarding violations to child marriage laws across the state had risen from 2,666 yesterday. This marked a rise of 123 arrests.

Taking to Twitter, CM Sarma wrote, “Now total arrest – 2789. Crackdown continues.�

Assam government will soon formulate a rehabilitation policy for the victims of child marriage, especially for those girls whose husbands have been arrested in the recent crackdown.

Assam police have arrested 2278 persons in connection with the cases related to child marriage across the state so far and have registered 4074 cases as part of their state-wide crackdown on child marriages.

"The idea is not to keep them in jail. The idea is to show a demonstrative action that society is against child marriage. We have started a crackdown on child marriage and will continue it," said chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as saying. "If in a case of murder, if the only breadwinner becomes an accused, will the police not arrest him? In our law, the word 'sympathy' can't be exercised by the police. 'Sympathy' can be exercised only by a court of law," he added.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday updated about the number of arrests made across the state in connection with the crackdown on child marriages.

CM Sarma informed that so far, as many as 2,666 arrests have been made in the matter across Assam. This has risen from 2,441 arrests as of February 6.

The Assam CM took to Twitter to inform about the arrest count. He wrote, “Our crackdown against child marriage continues with 2,666 arrests made so far.�

“The drive against this social evil will continue. We seek the support of the people of Assam in our fight against this social crime,� he further wrote.

The Matia transit camp in Assam's Goalpara and a stadium in Silchar has been converted into temporary jails to accommodate the arrestees on charges of either marrying underage girls or solemnising and encouraging such marriages which crossed over 2400.

A total of 2441 arrests have been made till Monday.

Assam Police IG (law & order) Prashanta Kumar Bhuyan, who is also the official spokesperson, said: "Jails in a few districts have become overcrowded for which the Assam government has converted the Matia transit camp and a stadium in Silchar into temporary jails. The transit camp has a capacity of 3,000 inmates."

Also Read: Assam: Temporary Jails Set Up To Accommodate Arrestees in Child Marriage Crackdown

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has decided to request the Supreme Court to move against the recent issue of child marriages in Assam.

Guwahati High Court senior advocate and committee member, Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury, said that the decision was taken at a board meeting in Lucknow on Sunday.

He said, “I raised the issue and there was a detailed discussion on this.�

A case related to the minimum age of Muslim girls getting married is pending before the Supreme Court.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday informed that the number of arrests in connection with child marriages in the state stood at 2,441.

This comes as the massive crackdown of Assam Police on child marriage across the state enters the fourth day. The police’s action including arrests of those involved in underage marriages has come following direct orders of the chief minister.

Taking to Twitter today, CM Sarma updated about the number of arrests in the case so far. He wrote, “Total arrest so far - 2441. Crackdown against Child marriage continues in #assam.�

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has appreciated the Assam Government's ongoing crackdown on child marriages in the state.

NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo, lauding the state government’s initiative said that political parties should be sensitive in matters relating to children.

Slamming the AIUDF’s "childish and foolish remark," Priyank Kanoongo said, “The statement of AIUDF that the Assam government has not framed the rules is 'childish and foolish'. The political parties should be sensitive in matters relating to children. Child Marriage Act and POCSO Act are central Acts. I don't understand how people make political statements.�

"The model rules have been laid down by the Centre, there is no need for separate rules if the Assam government accepts those rules in their forms. It is notable that the Commission has already challenged the matters allowing child marriages in the Supreme Court. We are fighting a legal battle," he added.

A total of 126 people arrested in connection with child marriage cases in Assam’s Golakganj were on Sunday presented before a court of which 111 were sentenced to jail.

This comes amid a major crackdown by Assam Police on child marriages across the state under strict instructions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Several reports have claimed that so far that as many as 2,258 arrests have been made by the police across Assam in connection with child marriage cases.

According to initial reports, among the 126 culprits who were produced before the court by the police, 15 were remanded to police custody for two days.

Meanwhile, the remaining 111 culprits apprehended on charges of being involved in child marriages in Golakganj in the Dhubri district of Assam, were sentenced to serve time in prison.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has called the action taken against child marriage in Assam a "farce". According to the Congress MP, the state government has instructed the police force to dig up decades old cases without following proper procedure.

Gaurav Gogoi has also said that the people of the state have "completely rejected" the initiative.

"It is a PR exercise for the Chief Minister under whose tenure - cases of mafia, crimes against women and elderly, drugs and kidnappings have increased. Police are reprimanded by high courts for failing their investigation esp in the Arnamai Bora murder case," he wrote in his tweets.

The Assam Police has arrested a total of 2,258 people in connection to child marriage-related cases across the state.

The highest number of arrests has been made from Biswanath district with 139 arrests. On the other hand, the lowest number of arrests has been made from Dibrugarh district with six arrests.

Assam: 2,258 Arrested in Child Marriage Cases So Far, Highest in Biswanath

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that the crackdown on child marriage will continue till state assembly elections 2026.

Speaking to media persons on the second day of the statewide crackdown on child marriage, Sarma said that over 2,200 people have been arrested till Saturday morning.

The chief minister said, “The crackdown against child marriage continues for the second straight day and the police has arrested over 2,200 people so far. Our government has pledged to eradicate the social crime from society. The drive against child marriage will continue till the state assembly elections in 2026. A helpline will also be launched in this regard.�

Talking about the figures, CM Sarma said that 4,074 cases have been registered in connection to this.

He said, “4,074 cases have been registered regarding the social crime. Among these, many are parents. They will be eligible for bail. Over 8000 people have been claimed as accused. The number of people to be arrested and sent to court is around 3,500.�

The vice president of the central commitee of the All Assam Minorities Students' Union (AAMSU), Anarul Islam, was arrested from Lakhimpur in a child marriage case.

Islam was arrested for allegedly marrying a 16-year-old minor girl.

Ironically, the AAMSU had supported the Assam chief minister's move to eradicate cases of child marriage in Assam saying that the CM should take more strict measures to curb the same.

A top leader of the AAMU had also recently said that the group has been operating against child marriage cases in the state since 2017. He also claimed that the union was successful in stopping around 3,500 child marriages.

A total of 2,044 arrests were made in connection to cases pertaining to child marriage in Assam as of Friday evening, informed DGP GP Singh.

"From yesterday, we started taking action on the basis of FIRs that were registered in different districts and till 3 pm we have arrested 2044 people from different districts in the state."

The highest arrests were made in Biswanath, Dhubri, Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Hojai, he further informed.

Complete breakdown below -

Assam Police spokesperson Prasanta Kumar Bhuyan on Saturday morning informed that a total of 2,170 were arrested in connection to cases pertaining to child marriage in the state.

"The figures of the arrests in Child Marriage cases have risen. Till this morning, the police had arrested 2,170 persons across the state and it will increase further," Bhuyan told reporters.

A heated situation erupted at Tamarhat under Assam's Dhubri district after a large group of women protested outside a police station demanding the release of their husbands who were arrested in child marriage-related cases.

The police had to barricade the police station and increased the security as the agitation was only growing.

There are also reports of some women fainting and being rushed to a nearby medical centre.

Amid the massive crackdown on child marriage cases in Assam, a tragic incident has come to light wherein a woman allegedly committed suicide fearing for her father’s arrest as she was married off when she was a minor. 

The incident was reported from South Salmara-Mankachar district on Friday night. 

The deceased has been identified as Seema Khatun, also known as Khushbu. It is learned that Seema was a widow whose husband had passed away two years prior due to COVID-19. 

Sources said that that woman took the extreme step at her father’s house itself where she had been staying with her two children following her husband’s demise. 

After the chief minister’s directive on child marriage cases, Seema allegedly hung herself from the ceiling fan of her room.

Child Marriage Crackdown: Assam Woman Commits Suicide Fearing Father's Arrest

During a press conference on Friday evening, the top cop said, “The chief minister had received information about child marriage being rampant in several parts of the state, after which he ordered an inquiry. As per the directive, data of three years pertaining to child marriage cases were accessed.�

"Following this, all the district SPs were told to get in touch with respective village defence parties, Gaon Buras, chiefs of various communities and prominent people of various communities and on the basis of that we have observed that there are instances of child marriage in various parts of the state," he said.

He continued, “On the basis of this, we have specific instances where cognizable cases were made out and on the basis of that during the last two days, 4074 cases were registered across different districts of Assam."

2,044 Arrested In Child Marriage Cases So Far, Informs Assam DGP

In a relief to the minor wives of arrested husbands in connection with child marriages, the Assam CM announced that they will receive free ration the moment their husbands are arrested.

A total of 53 persons were apprehended in Guwahati. Besides this, 192 cases related to child marriage were registered at different police stations under the Guwahati Police Commissionerate.

Arrests as on Friday (3pm) -

134 in Dhubri, 110 in Barpeta, 131 in Biswanath, 74 in Nagaon, 91 in Hojai, 79 in Karimganj, 60 in Morigaon, 59 in Golaghat, 85 in Kokrajhar, 8 in Jorhat, 34 in Nalbari, 30 in Udalguri, 35 in South Salmara, 53 in Kamrup (M), 23 in Bongaigaon, 24 in Sivasagar, 40 in Chirang, 17 in Sonitpur, 11 in Hailakandi, 23 in Dhemaji, 63 in Charaideo, 67 in Goalpara, 16 in Majuli, 31 in Darrang, 22 in Lakhimpur, 106 in Baksa, 13 in Tinsukia, 62 in Kamrup Rural and 7 in Dibrugarh.

Assam Police Crackdown on Child Marriage Continue, Highest Arrests in Dhubri

As many as 1800 people were arrested in connection to cases pertaining to child marriage in Assam as on Friday. This was informed by the state chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while briefing media persons.

CM Sarma said, “Till 8 am today (Friday), a total of 1800 people were arrested in connection to child marriage-related cases in various districts of the state. The police will continue extensive statewide operations in the next three to four days. The exact details on the arrests will be further clarified by the DGP in the evening.�

Reiterating that the government is firm in its resolve to end the "menace of child marriage" in the state, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that the action on such cases will begin on Friday. (February 3).

"Assam Govt is firm in its resolve to end the menace of child marriage in the state. So far @assampolice has registered 4,004 cases across the state and more police action is likely in days ahead. Action on the cases will begin starting February 3. I request all to cooperate,â€� CM Sarma said on Twitter.

Action On Child Marriage Cases In Assam To Start Tomorrow: CM Sarma

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