Assam Intensifies Efforts Against Child Marriage with Over 500 Arrests
Ongoing Crackdown on Child Marriage in Assam
In Nagaon district, police have arrested 43 people and registered 36 cases as part of the ongoing operation
Guwahati/Raha, Oct 29: Assam's vigorous campaign against child marriage has resulted in 565 arrests and 481 cases filed statewide, as reported by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday. He emphasized that this initiative will persist until child marriage is completely eliminated.
In a social media update, Sarma stated, “Currently, we have 565 individuals arrested and 481 cases registered. The crackdown will continue until child marriage is eradicated from Assam.”
Dhubri has seen the highest number of arrests, with 63 individuals detained across nine police station jurisdictions.
In Nagaon district, authorities have apprehended 43 individuals and filed 36 cases as part of this ongoing operation, according to a senior police official. Among those arrested, 22 are husbands accused of marrying underage girls, while the other 21 are alleged accomplices, including family members who facilitated these unions.
The Dhing Police Station reported the most arrests in Nagaon, with eight individuals taken into custody, including four husbands and four alleged accomplices. Following closely, Nagaon Police Station recorded seven arrests, consisting of six husbands and one alleged accomplice.
Most of the cases have been filed under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, alongside relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The victims are receiving counseling, and medical examinations are being conducted as per established protocols. Further arrests are anticipated as investigations progress.
The state government's initiative has garnered support from Wazed Ali Choudhary, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, who remarked on Wednesday that arresting those involved in child marriage is a necessary step. He stated, “If someone has engaged in child marriage, then arresting them is the right course of action. Through our NGOs, we are making significant efforts within our society to prevent child marriage. The steps taken by the government are correct.”
This crackdown coincides with reports indicating a decrease in child marriage rates across Assam. A report titled Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India, published by Just Rights for Children last year, highlighted an 84% reduction in child marriages among girls and a 91% reduction among boys in Assam over the past three years.
On a national scale, the report noted declines of 69% among girls and 72% among boys.
Additionally, Kamrup district has made strides in child protection during 2025, with collaborative efforts from the district administration, law enforcement, and civil society organizations preventing 350 child marriages and rescuing 10 children from trafficking.