Guwahati: A Christian pastor has been taken into custody by Assam police for sexually harassing a minor girl in Margherita in Tinsukia district.
The 16-year-old girl was repeatedly sexually harassed for several days by the pastor until it was discovered by the victim’s family. The accused, identified as Pastor Isaac Hapat of Panigaon, Ulup Pathar, allegedly assaulted the minor victim in absence of his wife and the victim was threatened not to disclose the matter to anyone including her family.
According to reports the abuse began on 10th June when accused pastor Hapat’s wife went to her parents home. The minor victim was at Hapat’s home for some religious reason best known to the local church. In the absence of his wife the pastor sexually abused the minor girl. He threatened the victim and restrained her before subjecting to multiple sexual assaults.
The terrified minor, trapped in a cycle of fear, was unable to seek help as the pastor reportedly silenced her with threats.
The nightmares for the minor victim only ended on 22nd June when she managed to escape the pastor’s home and returned to her family in the nearby village.
Her deteriorating health raised immediate concerns, and upon questioning, she revealed the horrific abuse she had endured.
The devastated and enraged family lodged an FIR in Margherita police station against the pastor. Acting swiftly the Margherita police arrested the accused pastor Isaac Hapat from his residence. A case (76/2025) has been registered against the accused pastor under the section 6 of POCSO Act 2012 along with relevant sections of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). He was produced in the local court and the court sent him to police custody for further investigation.
The case has sparked widespread anger in Margherita. They demand strong punishment of the accused and a proper investigation of the case. It should be mentioned that the tribal and tea garden communities in those areas in upper Assam are becoming prime targets for religious conversion by Christian missionaries. Growing numbers of Churches are the proof of mass conversion in the tea community and tribal areas. Many such cases of social misconduct and sexual harassment were reported from those areas in the past. It is now up to the police to carry a proper investigation and give justice to the minor victim.
