Hyderabad: Assam police arrested 98 people during an overnight operation targeting alleged child marriage cases across the state, with Dhubri district recording the highest number of arrests at 64. The remaining 34 arrests were reported from Nagaon, Boko, Chhaygaon and Bongaigaon, police sources said.
The operation is part of the state government's intensified efforts to enforce the law against child marriage. Those taken into custody include parents, other relatives and qazis allegedly connected to the practice.
In Dhubri district, the arrests were spread across several police station jurisdictions. Dhubri Sadar recorded 18 arrests, followed by Golakganj with 15. Gauripur and Bilasipara reported eight arrests each, while Fakirganj recorded seven and Chapor five. Two people were arrested in Tamarhat and one in Agomoni.
Bilasipara police also carried out a separate operation in different parts of the subdivision, arresting eight people over their alleged involvement in child marriage. Police station officer-in-charge Biswajit Bhadra confirmed the arrests and said the operation was still underway.
Bhadra warned that further arrests would follow. “More people involved in the illegal practice will be arrested and put behind bars soon,” he said.
The other 34 arrests were reported from Nagaon, Boko, Chhaygaon and Bongaigaon, according to police sources in Bongaigaon and Boko.
Those detained were being questioned at the police stations concerned and were expected to be brought before a court in due course. However, authorities had not yet disclosed the individual allegations against the accused, the nature of their respective roles or details of the legal proceedings initiated against them.
A senior police officer in Dhubri said the campaign would continue until everyone already identified by the police had been arrested.
The latest operation comes amid the Assam government's efforts in recent years to curb child marriage and safeguard minors' rights and safety.
An advocate at the Dhubri court said a formal police statement containing details of the allegations and subsequent court proceedings was still awaited. (with inputs from media organisations)