Guwahati, Oct 27 (PTI) Assam Police have intensified the crackdown on child marriage, and 520 people have been arrested and over 440 cases registered in recent times, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday.
He asserted that the government will continue its drive till the state is freed of underage marriages.
“When you think child marriage crackdown will start from November, but it has already started,” Sarma said in a social media post, referring to his earlier announcement that a major drive will be undertaken from next month.
“As of 17:00 hrs today, 524 culprits have been arrested, and 441 cases have been registered. We will not spare anyone involved in this heinous crime and ensure that Assam is free from child marriage,” Sarma added.
The Assam government had launched its crackdown against child marriage in 2023, during the first term of Sarma as the chief minister.
He had earlier said that the state government’s efforts in the last few years led to more than 11,000 arrests and registration of over 12,000 cases, with an 81 per cent drop in child marriages across 20 districts, along with a drastic reduction in teenage pregnancies and an increase in female higher education enrolment. PTI SSG SSG ACD
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