ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Feb 21: Barely days after the brutal rape and killing of a minor at Tezu which created widespread resentment across the state, the spate of sexual violence continued in the state as two more rapes have been reported involving minor girls in the past 24 hours, one at Upper Siang, and another at Upper Subansiri.

The latest incident is of a 6 year old girl, a student of St. Thomas, School, Yingkiong, who was allegedly raped by her own teacher, Holbi Sema, 35, hailing from Nagaland.

The matter came to light after the victim complained to her parents about pain in her lower abdomen and vomiting tendency. On further inquiry by the mother, the child disclosed about sexual assault by her teacher on February 17.

Shocked by the revelation, the parents immediately lodged a complaint at the police station,Yingkiong on February 19. And on the same day with the help of relatives caught the accused from his home and handed over to the police.

Later the police transferred him to judicial custody at Aalo fearing the accused may meet the same fate as what happened with the rape accused at Tezu recently.

Since then the angry public has been protesting over the alleged transfer of accused from the town, which led to widespread protest outside DC office and Police station these last two days and is still continuing. But things started worsening when their demand was turned down and it came to be known that the accused was transferred secretly under the remand of Aalo, PS on the same night.

Then an irate mob in hundreds first protested outside the DC office to voice their anger and then stormed into the police station, Yingkiong and torched everything that came in their way including a police vehicle at main general ground.  

Furious over the incident, the public today also called a 12 hour Yingkiong Bandh, then burned tyres and held massive public rally under the town demanding immediate handing over of alleged rapist under their custody.

Source from PS, Yinkiong revealed that the local people are adamant to continue with their protest unless the accused is brought back and handed over to them. A case has also been registered Vide No- 4/18 u/s- 147, 149, 435 IPC RW Sec 3 of PDPP Act against unknown person for vandalizing of the PS and for damaging government property,” the sources added.

Officer In charge, PS, Yingkiong CA Mehu when contacted informed that police had to resort to mild lathi charge with tear gas to dispersed the crowds during the 12 hour bandh today. Sufficient security arrangement has been made and as of now situation is under control,” the OC added.

 The second incident surfaced a day after the Yingkiong incident at Daporijo, the district headquarters of Upper Subansiri, when one, A Gapak, aged 23,  an employee under  agriculture department was arrested by Daporijo police on charge of sexually exploiting  a five and half year old minor girl on February 14 last.

The minor reportedly complained of uneasiness in her stomach to her sister, who then reported it to parents. The stunned parents reportedly rushed to the police after the child narrated the sexual abuse and lodged a complaint at PS, Daporijo on February 20. The accused happened to be immediate neighbour of the family.

 

Later when the information of rape spread like wildfire in the township, an angry mob consisting mostly of youths went to the alleged accused home, dragged him outside, stripped him naked, thrashed him and paraded throughout the town and later handed him to the police.

“We have registered a case of rape against the person and a case was filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences or POCSO and other sections of Indian Penal Code,” Upper Subansiri, SP, Taru Gusar said on Friday.

“The accused is under police custody and interrogation is underway. The child is safe and we can provide more information only after fully investigating the case,” the SP added who was travelling to district headquarters when this report was filed. 

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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