Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday that 524 people had been arrested and 441 cases registered across the state as part of the ongoing crackdown on child marriage, reiterating that those involved in the practice would not be spared.

Source: ANI via Latestly

In a post on X, Sarma shared an update on the crackdown and said the figures were recorded as of 5 pm on Tuesday. "A quick update on #ChildMarriageCrackdown: As of 17:00hrs today, 524 culprits have been arrested and 441 cases have been registered," the Chief Minister wrote. "We will not spare anyone involved in this heinous crime and ensure that Assam is free from Child Marriage," he said. The same figures were reported independently by IANS.

Source: IANS via Tripura Times

Dhubri records the highest detentions

Dhubri district in Assam has recorded the highest number of detentions in the renewed anti-child marriage drive launched following directions from the Chief Minister, according to the ANI report. Police detained 63 people from areas under nine police stations in Dhubri district in connection with alleged child marriage cases.

According to the breakdown in the report, 18 people were detained from Dhubri Sadar police station limits, 8 from Gauripur, 15 from Golakganj, 1 from Agomoni, 2 from Tamarhat, 9 from Bilasipara, 5 from Chapar and 5 from Fakirganj. The detainees reportedly include people accused of involvement in child marriages, as well as parents and guardians. These are police allegations at this stage; no court outcomes have been reported.

The police operation is continuing across the district, and the number of detainees is expected to rise further, the report said. No district-wise breakdown for the whole state had been provided in the Chief Minister's social media update, IANS noted.

A renewed phase of a long-running drive

Sarma also indicated that the crackdown had begun earlier than some people expected, referring to speculation that the next phase of the operation would start in November. Dhubri had also recorded a high number of arrests during the statewide anti-child marriage drive on December 22, 2024, when 68 people were arrested in the district, according to the ANI background.

The Assam government has maintained that child marriage poses a serious threat to the health, education and overall well-being of minors, particularly girls, exposing them to early pregnancies, health complications and disruption of education. Further details are awaited as the drive continues.