The government is continuously whipping against child marriage in Assam. The state-wide campaign has started on the instructions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and so far 4,074 cases have been registered. The CM himself has informed that 8,134 people have been identified as accused, 2,211 people have been arrested. He has said that 3,500 more people will have to be arrested. This action of CM Sarma is being praised as well as criticized.
Women are opposing these actions of the Assam government. Against this decision of the government, women have come on the road and are protesting. Most of the husbands and male relatives have been arrested on charges of child marriage. In such a situation, the women of the family are blowing the bugle against the government. On the other hand, Himanta Sarkar says that action against child marriage will continue despite civil protest.
Fearing father's arrest, the girl committed suicide?
A suicide incident has come to the fore amidst the actions of the Assam Police. Fearing the arrest of her father, a girl has allegedly committed suicide. It has been told in the media reports that since the girl was a minor at the time of her marriage and she was apprehensive that her father might be arrested considering her responsible, she committed suicide.
The husband of that girl had died during the Kovid epidemic. He also has two children. Another news came from Golakganj, in which a woman created ruckus in the police station and threatened to commit suicide if her husband was not released. Her husband has been arrested on charges of child marriage.
Why are women protesting?
The government and the police are keeping an eye on thousands of cases of child marriage in Assam. The police is constantly cracking down on it. Most of the husbands are being arrested on the charges of child marriage. If there is no husband, then the fathers of the girl. Girls who were married as minors are being rescued from their in-laws' house. That's why women have taken to the streets against this decision of the Assam government.
Thousands of women are gheraoing different police stations to protest against these arrests. The women protesting say that the way the government is running the campaign is wrong. Her husband and his family members are innocent. The women demand that all the accused be released.
Marriages declared illegal!
Assam's cabinet had recently taken this tough decision to curb child marriage. The government has decided that a case will be registered under the POCSO Act for marrying girls below the age of 14 years. At the same time, those who marry girls in the age group of 14-18 years will be prosecuted under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. The accused will be arrested and such marriages will be declared illegal. If the bridegroom who marries a minor is also a minor, then he will be sent to a reform home. The Assam government has launched a statewide campaign for this.
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