GUWAHATI | Assam has arrested 524 people and registered 441 cases in its ongoing crackdown on child marriage, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to eliminating the practice.

Sharing the latest figures on X, Sarma said the data were recorded as of 5 pm on October 27. He warned that the government would take action against those involved in child marriage. “We will not spare anyone involved in this heinous crime and ensure that Assam is free from Child Marriage,” the chief minister said.

The latest figures come as the state continues its campaign against underage marriages through police action, legal proceedings and awareness initiatives.

Crackdown launched in 2023

Assam intensified its campaign against child marriage in 2023, with successive police drives targeting alleged offenders and those accused of facilitating or solemnising underage marriages. The first two major operations, conducted in February and October 2023, resulted in thousands of arrests. A third special drive in December 2024 led to 416 arrests, according to police figures reported at the time.

The enforcement campaign has targeted not only those accused of entering into underage marriages but also individuals allegedly involved in arranging or solemnising such unions. Cases may be registered under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and other applicable laws, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, depending on the circumstances of each case.

Government points to decline in child marriages

The Assam government has cited a reported decline in child marriages as an indication of progress under the campaign. In September 2026, Sarma referred to more than 12,000 cases registered and over 11,000 arrests over the preceding years, while highlighting a reduction in the prevalence of child marriage in the state.

A separate child-rights study cited in a September 2025 report indicated an 84 per cent decline in child marriages among girls and a 91 per cent decline among boys between April 2022 and March 2025. The findings were based on selected villages and should not be treated as a comprehensive statewide count.

Despite the reported decline, the government has maintained that enforcement and awareness efforts will continue.The latest figures underline the administration’s continued focus on curbing child marriage through legal action, alongside efforts to address the social factors that allow the practice to persist.