Assam to re-launch crackdown against child marriage; 3,000 men to face arrest in next 10 days: CM Sarma

Crackdown against child marriage: After the overall successful G20 Summit in New Delhi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Assam government is all set to re-launch a major crackdown against child marriages in the state. 

While addressing at the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) women's wing's national executive meeting, Assam CM announced to resume the next campaign against child marriage crackdown and said that around 2,000-3,000 men will be arrested in next 10 days over their involvement in child marriage.  

As per the sources, CM Sarma was waiting for the conclusion of the G20 Summit in New Delhi to again re-start the campaign against child marriage in the state to stop the cases of child marriages. 

While addressing at the event, CM Sarma said, “Six months back, 5,000 people were arrested for child marriages in Assam. I was waiting for the culmination of G20 Summit. In the next 10 days, I will arrest 2,000-3,000 men against violation of child marriage.” 

CM Sarma also questioned that “Is it not exploitation if a girl becomes mother at age 12? Is it not considered exploitation if a man marries four times?” 

Earlier, few months ago, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that his government is committed to ending the menace by 2026. "By 2026, child marriage must be ended in Assam. Our government will take strong action to end Child Marriage," he added.

Earlier, in February 2023, more than 2,500 people were arrested in cases related to child marriages in Assam. 932 persons were arrested in the state in 2017 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO), while 1393 persons were arrested in 2018, 1428 in 2019, 1471 in 2020, 1500 in 2021, 1537 in 2022. 

- With inputs from agencies