India: Assam erupts in protests after minor girl allegedly gangraped in Nagaon
Rape, India
A young girl from the Indian state ofAssam's Nagaon district was allegedly gangrapedon Thursday (August 22) evening while she was on her way home. The alleged incident sparkedwidespread protests on Friday (August 23) and resulted in an indefinite shutdown of shops and businesses.
The incident took place on Thursday evening when the girl, who is a Class X student, was said to be on her way home from tuition. She was allegedly attacked by three men on a motorcycle, who surrounded and raped her. The girl was later found lying unconscious by the roadside near a pond.
Local residents who found her immediatelyalerted the police. She was taken to a health centre in Dhing but later transferred to a hospital in Nagaon for further treatment and examination. The police have arrested one suspect, Tafazzul Islam, and are searching for the other suspects.
Protests erupt inNagaon district after alleged gangrape of a young girl
Following the incident, protests erupted, with a student union calling for a bandh in the area on Friday. Local shopkeepers closed their shops, and various social and political groups demanded strict punishment for the offenders and enhanced security measures for women and girls.
'Crime against humanity': Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned the incident, calling it a "crime against humanity."
Sarma took toX and wrote, "The horrific incident at Dhing, involving a minor, is a crime against humanity and has struck our collective conscience."
"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," Sarma added.
He later told reporters, "The criminals who dared to commit such a heinous crime against a minor Hindu girl in Dhing will not be spared by the law. I have directed the DGP and Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika to rush to Dhing and take the toughest action."
(With inputs from agencies)
