Guwahati: Thousands of men-women came out to the street of the Assam-Meghalaya border in Hassura, demanding immediate justice for the victims of gang rape and assault by suspected Rohingya intruders on April 16. Around 5 thousand people, led by several thousand Konch Rajbanshi and Hajong tribe women, marched to the district commissioner’s office of Ampati district in Meghalaya, demanding immediate arrests of the offenders and justice for the minor victims. The protesters also demanded the safety and security of indigenous people from the illegal intruders. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the district commissioner requesting to start immediate legal procedures on the matter and justice for the minor victims.
It should be mentioned that a suspected Rohingya Muslim gang raped 2 minors in South West Garo Hills (SWGH) in Assam- Meghalaya border on April 16 while the minor girls were returning from an annual fair in the Chenga Benga area. One minor girl was gang-raped by over 20 suspected Rohingya, while a minor boy who was with the girl was brutally beaten and tied to a tree. Another minor girl was sexually molested by the gang and a minor boy who was with the victim was brutally beaten by the gang.
It came to light that the miscreants were illegal Rohingya intruders after a team of NCPCR led by the chairman met the victims and their families.
NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said that Rohingya infiltrators could be behind the gang rape at Chenga Benga.
A team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights led by Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo met the family members of the two minor girls on 28th April. It should be mentioned that one minor girl was gang raped by a group of over 20 criminals and another girl was brutally molested by the gang. The incident took place at Gandhipara village near Garobadha in South West Garo Hills district on April 16. The brutal incident was reported to police on April 18 by the parents of the victims. Two minor boys were also beaten up by the gang.
NCPCR Chairperson Kanoongo revealed that the gang brutally beat up the two minor boys accompanied by the victim girls and snatched away their mobile phones and money. One boy was tied in a tree for several hours and another was hit on his head and became unconscious and the suspected Rohingyas brutally raped the minor.
As per the report, four minor girls and boys went to visit the annual ‘Chenga Benga Mela’ in Gandhipara village in South West Garo Hill district of Meghalaya. The group of young boys and girls are from the nearby village. But on their way back home, a group of miscreants dragged them to an isolated place and gang-raped one girl and brutally molested another. Three separate FIRs had been lodged by the parents of the victims where it is mentioned that a group of over 20 Muslim miscreants raped and molested the minor girls. Police sources confirmed that as per the medical report and statement of one minor victim, she was physically harassed and abused. The medical report and statement of the second girl confirmed that she was gang-raped by a group of Muslim miscreants. NCPCR Chairperson Kanoongo informed me that they will submit their report to both state and central governments and ensure that such heinous crimes do not occur in the future. NCPCR also would ensure that all the culprits are brought to justice. Meghalaya police have so far arrested 9 culprits based on evidence that was gathered during the investigation. Another 12 suspects are still at large, and police are looking out for them.
