Guwahati: Minor molested by 20 men, only 4 arrested

Guwahati: A teenaged girl was pulled by her hair, lifted up, thrown down, beaten up, thrashed, molested, groped, slapped and stripped in full public view for 30 minutes on Monday night at a busy road near the Christian Basti area in Guwahati by a mob of around 20 men. The girl was returning home after a party at a city bar. While the Assam Police has identified twelve men from the video footage that has gone viral on the Internet, it has only managed to arrest four so far.

The Assam DGP, Jayanto N Chaudhary, however, has promised action against the accused. He said, "The girl had gone to celebrate a friend's birthday... There (at the bar) they had a fight and the management asked them to leave as they were creating a ruckus over there... they came out and some hooligans saw her and tried to take advantage of her... She was assaulted but is not hospitalised... Whatever is there in the law books, we will do accordingly thanks to the coverage of media... They have been a great help."

The girl allegedly had an altercation with a young man at the bar who had passed an obscene remark at her. The video of the incident shows around 20 men brutally assaulting the minor, pulling her hair, beating her up and trying to strip her.

One of the accused, who used to work with a private company, has reportedly been sacked and the company has filed an FIR.

Experts react:

Mamta Sharma, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, has promised action in the case. "We will take action. We have taken cognizance of the matter. I would like to request the government to take note of such issues. A committee will be leaving for Guwahati tomorrow."

Jahnu Barua, a film director, has said action against the harassers should have been prompt. "What the mob has done to the girl is shocking. This is not the way to react. I condemn the incident. There is a loss of character in the entire country. Such incidents are happening across the country and this is shameful. Such incidents raise questions on the development of character of people in the country."

Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup District, Ashutosh Agnihotri, said that strict action will be taken against the accused. He admitted, "The police could have been a little faster to reach the spot. I have asked the SP to inquire into the delay.

He further said, "We are planning to take action against the bar owners if they are not following the norms. The bars are supposed to be closed by 10 pm."

He added, "Guwahati is safe for women. This is an incident everyone condemns. We will look into the video being circulated on the Internet. It is extremely shameful that the people are smiling at the camera. The Investigation Officer must have questioned the cameraperson also. The victim will be provided security."

The incident raises certain big questions:

- What will it take for the authorities to wake up and stem the rising incidents of heinous crime against women?

- Are the bystanders equally to blame?