Diphu : With rest of Assam Karbi Anglong police has began its drive against child marriage. Till now 126 cases have been registered in various police stations of the district and 53 persons have been sent to judicial custody. The accused includes Prist, Kagi, grooms, guardians of the bride and groom and middlemen or go-betweens.

Since morning police have arrested four persons from Diphu, two persons from Bokajan, six persons from Bakulia, one person from Anjakpani, ten persons from Manja, one person from Samalangso, three persons from Borlangphar, three persons from Borpathar, one person from Chokihola, six persons from Dillai, three persons from Deithar, six persons from Dokmoka, two persons from Howraghat, one from Dolamara, four from Khatkati.   

Superintendent of Police Karbi Anglong Sanjib Saikia while briefing the media at Diphu mentioned that government wants to reduce the maternal and infant mortality rate across the nation and child marriage is the biggest challenge in this task.  

It is worthwhile to mention here that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 gives the minimum age of marriage is 21 years in case of males, and 18 years in case of females. The Bill increases the minimum age for females to 21 years.

According to the National Family Health Survey 2019-21, 23% of women between the age of 20 and 24 were married before 18 years of age. Encouragingly this number has reduced significantly over the years from 47% in 2005-06 to 27% in 2015-16, and to 23% in the latest survey.