As protests against several rape incidents continue across the country, another such incident has triggered massive protests in Assam. A 14-year-old girl was gang-raped by three men on Thursday evening in Dhing in Nagaon district, after which local organisations called for an indefinite bandh in the town starting today.
The girl studying in class 10 was returning from tuition class on Thursday evening when she was attacked by three men between 7 pm and 8 pm. According to police, after brutally gang raping her, the assailants dumped her by the roadside in the Borbheti area. She was discovered in naked and unconscious condition by locals around an hour later.
The locals immediately informed the police, after which the police rushed to the spot and shifted the victim to the Dhing First Referral Unit (FRU) for urgent medical attention. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was later referred to Nagaon Civil Hospital for further treatment.
As per police, the three attackers were on a motorcycle when they spotted the girl and attacked her. Allegedly they sprayed something on her, tied her mouth, and raped her brutally, which caused her to lose consciousness. They then dumped her near a pond on the roadside, where she was discovered without clothes by people later.
Police said that all three culprits have been identified. One of the culprits have been arrested, while the search is on for the other two. While police refused to reveal the name of the arrested persons, media reports have identified him as Tafazzul Islam. Another person named Sahidul Islam has also been detained for questioning, but his links with the crime are not confirmed. Reportedly, all three accused belong to the Muslim community.
Senior police officials from district headquarters in Nagaon have reached to investigate the case. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has instructed DGP GP Singh to visit the site and ensure swift action. He tweeted, “The horrific incident at Dhing, involving a minor, is a crime against humanity and has struck our collective conscience.”
The horrific incident at Dhing, involving a minor, is a crime against humanity and has struck our collective conscience.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 23, 2024
We will NOT SPARE anyone & BRING the perpetrators to JUSTICE. I've directed @DGPAssamPolice to visit the site and ensure swift action against such monsters.
He further added, “We will NOT SPARE anyone & BRING the perpetrators to JUSTICE. I’ve directed @DGPAssamPolice to visit the site and ensure swift action against such monsters.”
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the menace of spray gang has become a serious matter, and promised strong action.
In the meanwhile, thousands of people came out on streets demanding swift justice. As the local organisations called for an indefinite bandh, shops in the market in Dhing remained closed.
