HT Correspondent
NAGAON, Sept 2: The gang-rape of a minor girl at Dhing market has been unresolved for 12 days, with Dhing police yet to apprehend the remaining two absconding suspects. This delay has led to growing discontent among the people of Dhing. The Dhing Mahila Samaj is preparing to protest again, and demonstrations are expected to shake the streets of Dhing soon, sources added.
It is noteworthy that on August 23, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Assam Police director general GP Singh assured that the culprits would be arrested soon and punished severely. Influential ministers Pijush Hazarika and Keshab Mahanta also visited Dhing and made similar promises to the public. However, the people of Dhing feel that these announcements and promises have turned out to be mere words.
The Dhing police had attempted to pacify the protesters by stating that the culprits would be arrested within two or three days, but they have yet to do so. The continued inaction has fueled anger among the residents of Dhing, with the possibility of a major outburst looming.
Since the evening of August 22, the Dhing Anchalik Chatra Santha, Dhing Anchalik Nari Suraksha Samiti, and the business association of Dhing market have led ongoing protests demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits and severe punishment. Once the protests subsided, police activity also diminished.
On the evening of August 22, a minor girl was gang-raped by three miscreants while returning home from her tuition on the Bhakatgaon-Barbheti road and was left in a roadside jungle near Dhing market. Following the incident, one accused was apprehended by the police but escaped while being taken to the spot for investigation and subsequently died by jumping into a pond.
