Child Marriage Crackdown: Assam Police Arrests 2,278. Who Will Take Care Of The Girls, Asks Oppn
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi told reporters that the state government's failure to speak up for the past six years is to blame.
New Delhi: Assam police have so far arrested 2278 persons in connection with the cases related to child marriage across the state and have registered 4074 cases as part of their state-wide crackdown on child marriages, reported news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, the opposition took a swipe at the Assam government over its crackdown on child marriages.
असम में 'बाल विवाह कुप्रथा' के खिलाफ अभियान तो फिर सियासत में क्यों घमासान?
— ABP News (@ABPNews) February 5, 2023
देखिए 'हुंकार' रोमाना ईसार खान @romanaisarkhan के साथ https://t.co/smwhXUROiK#Assam #ChildMarriage #HimantaBiswaSarma #ChildMarriagAct #HunkarOnABP pic.twitter.com/PiM67e1KQA
On Sunday, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) held a crucial meeting in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. At the meeting, the top officials discussed a variety of topics, including the alleged "forceful demolition of houses before proven guilty" and the uniform civil code (UCC).
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi told reporters that the state government's failure to speak up for the past six years is to blame.
On Saturday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the state police's campaign against child marriage, which began the day before, will continue until the 2026 Assembly elections.
"For the past six years, there has been a BJP Government in Assam. What have you been doing during the past six years? This is your failure for the past six years. You are sending them to jails. Now who will take care of those girls? CM (Himanta Biswa Sarma) will? It is a failure of the state and on top of that you are pushing them into misery," he said in a press conference.
In response to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's directive to put an end to the "menace," Assam police have made 139 arrests in the district of Biswanath as part of their state-wide crackdown on child marriages on Saturday.
“We have arrested 139 people so far and registered 97 cases related to child marriage at various police stations. Of the 139 people, 23 have been arrested under Sootea police station, 24 under Biswanath Chariali Sadar police station, 20 under Jinjia police station, 30 under Behali police station, 9 under Helem and 33 under Gohpur police station,” Biswanath SP Navin Singh said.
“Strict action against them will be followed as per law,” he said.
The police have so far made 79 arrests arrested 79 people in 92 cases related to child marriage registered at different police stations in Karimganj district.
According to Karimganj SP Padmanabh Baruah, "These people were involved in child marriage, and booked under provisions of Child Marriage Act."
In cases involving child marriage, the Assam police have made 139 arrests in Biswanath, 126 in Dhubri, 120 in Baksa, 114 in Barpeta, 97 in Nagaon, 94 in Kokrajhar, 87 in Bongaigaon, 76 in Hailakandi, 72 in Cachar, and 72 in Goalpara district, according to the data.
Assam Director-General of Police (DGP) GP Singh said at a press conference on Friday that as part of the crackdown on child marriage, 2,044 people have been arrested across the state, and 4074 cases have been filed thus far.
According to him, 52 of the people arrested are priests and Qazis involved in child marriages.
DGP Singh added, "Maximum arrests have been made in Dhubri, Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Vishwanath districts."
In addition, he claimed that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had instructed the police to conduct an investigation after receiving information indicating that child marriage was widespread in the state.
“About two months ago, CM Sarma told police that he had got inputs that child marriage was rampant in the various parts of the state and directed us to carry out a probe. On CM’s directive, all the SPs were told to get in touch with respective village defence parties, Gaon Buras, chiefs of various communities and prominent people of local communities and learned that there are instances of child marriage in various parts of the state,” DGP added.
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