Child marriage in Assam: Only 494 convicted out of 8,773 charge-sheeted

By PTI

GUWAHATI: A mere 494 individuals out of 8,773 individuals who had been charge-sheeted for youngster marriage and POCSO circumstances in Assam have been convicted since 2017, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned on Monday.

Replying to a question by Congress MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal in Assam Assembly, Sarma mentioned a complete of 8,773 individuals have been chargesheeted underneath Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) between 2017 and February 2023.

“A total of 494 persons were convicted and a total of 6,174 persons released on bail,” he added. This represents a conviction price of simply 5.63 per cent.

Sarma knowledgeable the House that 4,049 individuals had been arrested underneath the PCMA and eight,908 individuals have been nabbed underneath the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) throughout Assam from 2017 to February this 12 months.

During the interval, 134 boys underneath the age of 21 years, and a pair of,975 ladies under 18 years of age married (the permissible age of marriage for men and women respectively), he added.

Reacting to the info and on the latest crackdown towards youngster marriage accused, Mandal alleged that the Assam authorities is “terrorising” individuals utilizing the 2 acts.

On this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika mentioned: “How is it terrorising people. You (Congress government) did not frame the rule. Because of vote bank politics, you did not take any initiative.”

This led to a loud scene within the House with each treasury and opposition benches buying and selling prices.

In a separate question by Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi, the Chief Minister acknowledged that 4,111 incidents of kid marriage occurred within the state from April 2021 to February 2023. “A total of 4,670 cases have been registered naming 7,142 accused. Already 3,483 persons have been arrested, of which 1,182 are in jail, 2,253 have got bail and notices have been issued to 48 others,” he added.

Sarma additionally knowledgeable the legislators that the federal government has not taken any step to take accountability for the kids born out of kid marriages, however mentioned steps might be initiated if any youngster requires care and safety.

During the controversy on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s tackle, Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia mentioned slapping of POCSO and rape circumstances on youngster marriage accused have created disturbances within the society with many elderly individuals getting arrested.

AIUDF’s Aminul Islam claimed the federal government hatched a conspiracy and accordingly slapped POCSO and rape prices on the individuals, who had married for 7-8 years.

Congress MLA Bharat Chandra Narah refuted the federal government’s declare on Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and mentioned youngster marriage is likely one of the causes for the excessive MMR in Assam, however not the one trigger.

CPI(M)’s Manoranjan Talukdar mentioned: “The government said the PCMA was not implemented.  If so, who is responsible for that? The BJP was in power in Assam for over six years now.”

He additionally mentioned that no consciousness towards youngster marriage has been created within the state and Assam ought to observe Kerala mannequin as there may be hardly any case of kid marriage within the Southern state.

GUWAHATI: A mere 494 individuals out of 8,773 individuals who had been charge-sheeted for youngster marriage and POCSO circumstances in Assam have been convicted since 2017, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned on Monday.

Replying to a question by Congress MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal in Assam Assembly, Sarma mentioned a complete of 8,773 individuals have been chargesheeted underneath Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) between 2017 and February 2023.

“A total of 494 persons were convicted and a total of 6,174 persons released on bail,” he added. This represents a conviction price of simply 5.63 per cent.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

Sarma knowledgeable the House that 4,049 individuals had been arrested underneath the PCMA and eight,908 individuals have been nabbed underneath the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) throughout Assam from 2017 to February this 12 months.

During the interval, 134 boys underneath the age of 21 years, and a pair of,975 ladies under 18 years of age married (the permissible age of marriage for men and women respectively), he added.

Reacting to the info and on the latest crackdown towards youngster marriage accused, Mandal alleged that the Assam authorities is “terrorising” individuals utilizing the 2 acts.

On this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika mentioned: “How is it terrorising people. You (Congress government) did not frame the rule. Because of vote bank politics, you did not take any initiative.”

This led to a loud scene within the House with each treasury and opposition benches buying and selling prices.

In a separate question by Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi, the Chief Minister acknowledged that 4,111 incidents of kid marriage occurred within the state from April 2021 to February 2023. “A total of 4,670 cases have been registered naming 7,142 accused. Already 3,483 persons have been arrested, of which 1,182 are in jail, 2,253 have got bail and notices have been issued to 48 others,” he added.

Sarma additionally knowledgeable the legislators that the federal government has not taken any step to take accountability for the kids born out of kid marriages, however mentioned steps might be initiated if any youngster requires care and safety.

During the controversy on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s tackle, Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia mentioned slapping of POCSO and rape circumstances on youngster marriage accused have created disturbances within the society with many elderly individuals getting arrested.

AIUDF’s Aminul Islam claimed the federal government hatched a conspiracy and accordingly slapped POCSO and rape prices on the individuals, who had married for 7-8 years.

Congress MLA Bharat Chandra Narah refuted the federal government’s declare on Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and mentioned youngster marriage is likely one of the causes for the excessive MMR in Assam, however not the one trigger.

CPI(M)’s Manoranjan Talukdar mentioned: “The government said the PCMA was not implemented.  If so, who is responsible for that? The BJP was in power in Assam for over six years now.”

He additionally mentioned that no consciousness towards youngster marriage has been created within the state and Assam ought to observe Kerala mannequin as there may be hardly any case of kid marriage within the Southern state.