The Assam Police continues its relentless drive against the social evil of child marriage, with the third phase of operations resulting in the arrest of 431 individuals on December 20 and 21. These arrests were part of a broader crackdown that has, since February 2023, led to a staggering 5,348 arrests. In the most recent phase, 345 cases were filed across various districts, with the arrested individuals set to face trial in court.

Speaking about the ongoing efforts, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made his commitment clear, promising to eradicate child marriage from Assam by 2026. “First, we arrested around 5000 people; later, it reduced to 2000, and since yesterday, we have nabbed around 400 plus people. We have also brought in policies to support girls such as Nijukt Mukta Asoni,” he stated, highlighting the government’s multifaceted approach to tackling the issue.

The third phase of the drive saw significant action across several districts. Dhubri topped the list with 68 arrests, followed by Barpeta (52), South Salmara (42), Karimganj (22), and Kamrup (22). These arrests targeted not only individuals involved in child marriages but also Qazis who illegally solemnized such unions.

Chief Minister Sarma emphasized the urgency of the matter, pointing to the high maternal and infant mortality rates linked to child marriages, particularly in Muslim-dominated areas. "We can no longer allow marriage of a girl of 13 or 14, become a mother and die during delivery or thereafter. During our drive, we have come across several such cases," he said. His statements underscore the human cost of child marriage and the need for decisive action.

Taking to the social media platform X, the Chief Minister reiterated the state’s commitment, writing, “Assam continues its fight against child marriage. In Phase 3 operations launched on the night of Dec 21-22, 416 arrests were made and 335 cases registered. The arrested individuals will be produced in court today. We will continue to take bold steps to end this social evil!”

The state’s crackdown has been an ongoing effort, with earlier phases conducted in February and October 2023. The first phase led to the arrest of 3,483 individuals and the registration of 4,515 cases, while the second phase saw 915 arrests and 710 cases registered.

Continuing its rigorous campaign against child marriage and other social evils, the Assam Police has arrested 5,348 individuals across the state over the past two years and registered 5,842 cases. These efforts, spread across three distinct phases, reflect a steadfast commitment to eliminating this practice from the state.

The first crackdown was initiated in February 2023, followed by the second in October 2023. The latest phase of the operation unfolded on the night of December 21-22, during which 431 individuals were arrested and 345 cases registered. This brings the total arrests in the three phases to 5,348 and the total cases filed to 5,842.

The statistics from the three drives paint a clear picture of the scale of this operation. In the first phase, 3,425 people were arrested, and 4,387 cases were registered. The second phase saw 913 arrests and 682 cases filed. In the ongoing third phase, the police focused on arresting husbands, relatives, and Kazis who performed the child marriage rituals.

State DGP GP Singh, addressing the public on Sunday, revealed that “chargesheets have been filed in 95 per cent of the cases registered till the third phase launched on Saturday night (December 21).” He also highlighted the positive impact of the campaign, noting that maternal and infant mortality rates in Assam have shown a significant decline since the launch of these drives.

The state resumed its campaign on December 21, 2024, with the objective of eradicating child marriage by 2026, a target coinciding with the next Assembly elections. Police efforts are being supported by the state health department, which has been monitoring the health outcomes linked to the elimination of child marriage.

M.P. Gupta, ADGP (CID), emphasized that this initiative aligns with the vision of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Gupta reiterated the mission’s urgency, stating, “The goal is to eradicate the social evil of child marriage by the end of 2025. In this regard, two numbers of special drives have been conducted earlier in the month of February 2023 and again in the month of October 2023. In the first drive against child marriage all over Assam, 4,387 cases were registered and 3,425 persons were arrested. In the second drive conducted in the month of October 2023, 682 cases were registered and 913 persons were arrested. In continuity to curb the social evil of child marriage and as per the direction of the Chief Minister of Assam, Assam Police launched the third special drive on December 21, 2024, throughout the state.”

The Assam Police's ongoing drive against child marriages continues to gain momentum, with detailed data showcasing the scale of operations and the impact on the state’s maternal and infant mortality rates. According to M.P. Gupta, ADGP (CID), the third phase of the operation saw 345 cases registered, primarily involving accused husbands, family members, and Kazis responsible for conducting the marriage rituals.

“In the current drive 345 cases were registered and 431 persons were arrested. The arrests include the accused husbands, family members, and the Kazis who performed the marriage rituals. In the first two drives, 5,181 cases were charge sheeted, accounting for 95.2% of the cases registered. As a result of these special drives against child marriage, the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) have come down drastically in the state of Assam,” Gupta emphasized.

The latest data reflects a significant decline in maternal and infant deaths since the campaign began. Maternal deaths dropped from 766 in 2021-22 to 372 in 2023-24, while infant deaths reduced from 7,908 in 2021-22 to 4,790 in 2023-24.

District-wise arrests in the third phase highlight concentrated efforts in certain regions, with Dhubri leading at 68 arrests, followed by Barpeta (52), South Salmara (42), and 22 arrests each in Kamrup and Karimganj districts. Other districts, including Darrang and Hailakandi, also witnessed significant action with 21 arrests each.

Despite these achievements, the campaign has drawn mixed reactions. While the BJP-led government insists that the drive lacks any communal agenda, critics, including activists and opposition parties, allege that the crackdown disproportionately targets Muslim-majority areas. “Child marriage is definitely a serious problem, irrespective of caste, religion, and community. It is good that the state government has adopted some tough action to end the menace. But it has been observed that most of the arrests have been made in Muslim majority areas,” said Hasina Ahmed, president of the women’s front of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

Ahmed, also a lawyer and former leader of the All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU), has long been involved in preventing child marriages. However, she stressed the need for a more holistic approach. “No community should be specifically targeted. We cannot end this social evil by just arresting the sole bread earner of the family and putting him behind bars. We must devise a proper plan to increase the level of education, economic condition, and sustained awareness to make an impact in the real sense,” she added.

Rafikul Islam, an anti-child marriage activist from Barpeta, echoed similar concerns. He attributed the prevalence of child marriages in certain areas to poor economic conditions and low literacy rates, particularly in the riverine regions inhabited by marginalized communities.

The data further underscores the magnitude of the problem. Since February 2023, 5,842 cases have been registered, leading to 5,348 arrests. Among the districts, Dhubri recorded the highest arrests at 321, followed by Barpeta (207), South Salmara (128), and Karimganj (112).

As the state government presses ahead with its drive, the dual challenge remains to address both the legal enforcement and the socio-economic factors fueling child marriages. By combining arrests with education, economic upliftment, and widespread awareness campaigns, the government aims to achieve sustainable progress in its fight against this deeply entrenched social evil.

Cases registered since February 2023: 5,842

Arrests: 5,348

Dhubri: 321

Barpeta: 207

South Salmara: 128

Karimganj: 112

Maternal deaths:

2021-22: 766

2023-24: 372

Infant deaths:

2021-22: 7,908

2023-24: 4,790