A crackdown on unauthorized child marriages has resulted in the arrest of more than 2,000 individuals in the Indian state of Assam. Hundreds of women protested the operation, which was carried out by the local police, openly around the state. The women were protesting their husbands’ detention after being accused of conducting unauthorized child weddings.
India has the highest percentage of child brides in the world, making child marriage there a major issue. Despite the existence of laws against child marriage, the practice is nonetheless common, especially in rural areas. The legal age of marriage in Assam is 18 for women and 21 for men. But child marriage still happens, frequently with consent from parents and community leaders.
Over 2000 people, including the grooms and parents of the child brides, have been detained as a result of the recent operation against child marriage in Assam. Those detained as part of the operation have also had their belongings, jewelry, and other assets taken by the authorities. Numerous protests and tense situations have resulted from the arrests, and hundreds of women and children have taken to the streets to call for the release of their husbands.
Child rights advocates, who have long urged for stronger implementation of laws against the practice, have applauded Assam’s crackdown on child weddings. Some organizations, however, have criticized the operation, claiming that it ignores wealthier families who participate in the ritual and primarily targets the impoverished and marginalized areas.
India has recently passed laws and started awareness initiatives in an effort to stop child marriage. However, the practice is still widely used, and much more work needs to be done to put an end to it and safeguard children’s rights.
Despite the controversy surrounding the arrests, the Assam operation represents an important milestone in the country’s effort to abolish the practice of child marriage. The arrests have sent a strong message that child marriage is not acceptable and that those who practice it will face repercussions. It will be interesting to see how things develop over the next few days and what steps are taken to tackle the issue.