4 held in Barpeta for child marriage bid
A 25-year-old groom was arrested in Assam for allegedly marrying a 16-year-old girl. The bride's family had found out about the planned marriage and came to the village to stop it. The groom, his family, and the imam were all arrested and the girl was later given to a shelter. The percentage of child mothers in Assam is higher than the national average, and the number of child brides is highest in the lower Assam districts where minority muslims are concentrated.