Woman who tied knot 3 months ago kills self over Assam child marriage crackdown

A woman who got married to a man from South Salmara-Mankachar area just three months ago has committed suicide due to fear of strict measures taken by the Assam government against child marriage. The woman has been identified as a resident of Kamar Pada village under the jurisdiction of South Salmara police station. The woman's body has been sent for an autopsy.

This is the second incident of a woman taking her own life after the Assam government started taking strict action against child marriage in the state. Earlier this month, a 17-year-old girl from Assam's Cachar district took her own life after her parents broke their promise and refused to let her marry the boy she loved.

In another case, a 23-year-old woman in Golakgank, whose husband and father were arrested in a child marriage case in Dhubri district, reached the police station and threatened to commit suicide if they were not released. A woman fainted when she saw the police taking her husband and father to court.

In a bid to reduce child and maternal mortality in the state, the Assam government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has decided to take action against child marriage in the state. Those who married girls below the age of 14 are booked under the Pocso Act, while those who married girls between the ages of 14 and 18 are prosecuted under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that it will continue until the parliamentary elections in 2026. However, the crackdown has left the opposition in disbelief and sparked protests by affected families at various locations across the state.