Guwahati, Feb 2: The Assam police have registered 4,004 child marriage cases across the state, and more action will be taken against the menace.
“Assam Govt is firm in its resolve to end the menace of child marriage in the state. So far @assampolice has registered 4,004 cases across the state and more police action is likely in days ahead. Action on the cases will begin starting February 3. I request all to cooperate,” Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.
Number of cases registered in Assam against child marriage are Bajali – 132, Balsa – 153, Barpeta – 81, Biswanath – 98, Bongaigaon – 123, Cachar – 35, Charaideo – 78,Chirrang – 54, Commissionerate – 192, Darrang – 125, Dhemaji – 101, Dhubri – 370, Dibrugarh – 75, Dima Hasao – 24, Goalpara – 157, Golaghat – 62, Hailakandi – 1, Hamren – 15, Hojai – 255, Jorhat – 25, Kamrup – 80, Karbi-Anglong – 126, Karimganj – 92, Kokrajhar – 204, Lakhimpur – 32, Majuli – 44, Morigaon – 224, Nagaon – 113, Nalbari – 171, Sadiya – 85, Sivasagar – 54, Sonitpur – 60, South Salmara – 145, Tamulpur – 110, Tinsukia – 73, Udalguri – 235.
Earlier, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “The main reason for high infant mortality rate and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is child marriage. The state has an average of 31 percent marriages in the prohibited age.”
“There are over one lakh child marriage cases and police in next 15 days will launch crackdown and take legal action. Around 11.07 women have to bear children in the non-permitted age. This shows child marriage is happening alarmingly,” Sarma stated.
Sarma said the government has decided to try male marrying females below 14 years of age under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act.
