In the third phase of its intensified crackdown on child marriage, the Assam Police has arrested 416 individuals and registered 335 cases. The operation, which began on the night of December 21-22, is focused on addressing the persistent social issue and safeguarding children from early marriages.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to social media to announce the success of the operation, stating, “#Assam continues its fight against child marriage. In Phase 3 operations launched on the night of Dec 21-22, 416 arrests were made, and 335 cases were registered. The arrested individuals will be produced in court today. We will continue to take bold steps to end this social evil!”

The arrests come as part of a larger effort by the state government to combat child marriage and protect the rights of minors. The arrested individuals are expected to appear in court today.

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On December 10, CM Sarma attended the observance of Swahid Divas, organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha at Jamurihat in Sonitpur District. During the event, he reiterated the Assam government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of indigenous people and paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during the Assam Movement.

He described the day as a solemn occasion to honour over 800 martyrs who laid down their lives to protect the state’s honor, stating, “We must not forget the dark days of history when over 800 innocent and patriotic people from Assam were killed trying to preserve the honour of their beloved State.”

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Sarma also highlighted the state government’s ongoing efforts to ensure the preservation of Assam’s identity and promote the development of its people. He pointed out that the government is working towards delimitation to limit the impact of illegal migration and has cleared 10,000 hectares of encroached land.

Remembering Khargeswar Talukdar, the first martyr of the Assam agitation, Sarma noted that his sacrifice, along with those of other martyrs, contributed to the cause of protecting Assam from illegal migration and preserving its integrity.