GUWAHATI: A shocking molestation attempt on a 13-year-old Hindu girl in Assam’s Barpeta district triggered violent protests on December 8, with enraged locals setting fire to the accused’s house amid rising communal tensions.
The incident unfolded in Matabari village, under the Tarabari Police Station, around midday. The minor, out for a routine walk near her home, was allegedly molested and tried to rape by 60-year-old Alef Bhuyan, a local resident. Eyewitnesses and police reports claim Alef dragged the screaming girl from the roadside, stuffed a cloth in her mouth to silence her, and tried dragging her toward his nearby house. In a desperate struggle, the girl broke free and raised an alarm, alerting neighbours.
News of the assault spread like wildfire through the predominantly rural village, home to a mix of Hindu and Muslim families. Within hours, hundreds of agitated locals—mostly Hindu youth and family members—gathered outside Alef’s residence. Shouting slogans demanding justice, the crowd pelted stones and torched the property after failing to find the suspect, who had reportedly fled upon hearing of the police pursuit.
Barpeta Superintendent of Police, speaking anonymously to reporters, confirmed a manhunt is underway. “We have deployed additional forces to maintain order and are combing nearby areas. The girl is safe and receiving counselling; an FIR has been lodged under relevant sections of the POCSO Act and IPC,” the officer said. No injuries were reported from the arson, but the gutted house has heightened fears of retaliation.
Local leaders condemned the violence, urging restraint. “Such heinous crimes against children demand strict punishment, but arson solves nothing,” said a village panchayat member. Women’s rights groups echoed calls for better night patrols and faster justice in vulnerable rural pockets.
This episode underscores growing concerns about child safety in Assam’s districts, where similar incidents have previously fueled protests. As smoke cleared from the charred ruins, Barpeta braced for potential fallout, with police on high alert.
