Assam Cracks Down on Child Marriage, Illegal Entry and Encroachments Affecting 1,100 Families
Assam intensifies its crackdown on child marriage, illegal border crossings and encroachments, with dozens detained, nine foreign nationals apprehended and more than 1,100 families affected by demolitions in forest areas.
In districts such as Dhubri, police detained dozens of individuals, including those accused of child marriage, as well as parents and guardians. Hundreds of cases were registered as part of efforts to protect children and bring an end to the practice.
The crackdown also extended to illegal entry across the border. Authorities apprehended nine foreign nationals who had entered India illegally and handed them over to the Border Security Force for deportation. The action signalled a zero-tolerance approach towards unauthorised border crossings.
Meanwhile, separate anti-encroachment drives resulted in the demolition of homes belonging to more than 1,100 families, most of them Bengali-speaking Muslims. The demolitions were carried out in forest areas of Nagaon, Hojai and Golaghat following court orders.
The eviction drives have sparked questions over their impact on minority communities. Affected residents have claimed that some of the settlements had existed for decades and were established under government allotments.
The claims have raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the settlements and the consequences of the demolitions for the families affected.
Authorities, however, have stressed the need to uphold the law and protect land designated for forests and other protected purposes.
The developments have placed Assam's enforcement actions against child marriage, illegal entry and encroachments under scrutiny, with police and administrative authorities pursuing legal action while affected families and critics question the implications of the measures.
The crackdown spans child protection, border enforcement and land management, with the actions in multiple districts reflecting the scale of the ongoing enforcement efforts.

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