January 27, 2023: Assam Police have arrested four people including a 29-year-old groom for allegedly conducting child marriage in the Kurbaha area in Assam's Barpeta district, officials said on Friday.

The official said that a Qazi (Imam) was among those arrested for allegedly arranging child marriage in Barpeta district.

According to police, 29-year-old Sanuar Hussain hailing from the Gubardhana area near Barpeta had planned to marry a 16-year-old minor girl.

"The groom along with Qazi and other persons reached Kurbaha village to marry the minor girl on Thursday," an official familiar with the matter said.

"After receiving the information, our team reached the spot and rescued the minor girl. We also caught four persons including the groom, his father and Qazi for arranging the child marriage. We handed over the minor girl to Sakhi -One Stop Centre Scheme," the official said.

"We have registered a case and arrested all four persons," a police officer of Sorbhog police station said.

The Assam government has decided to book men who marry girls aged below 14 years in the state under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday.

"We will launch a massive crackdown against child marriage in the state. Those marrying girls below the age of 14 years, will be booked under the POCSO Act," the CM said earlier in the month.

While cases will be registered under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, if the bride is between 14 to 18 years old, the chief minister said.