Guwahati: The Assam Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the alleged gang rape of a woman in Guwahati. While the crime is believed to have taken place on 17 November, it came to light only Friday when the police came across a video of it being circulated among residents of the locality where it allegedly happened.
According to the police, the accused, aged 18-23 years, have been identified as Rabin Das, Kuldeep Nath, Bijoy Rabha, Pinku Das, Gagan Das, Saurav Boro, Mrinal Rabha and Dipankar Mukhia, but the woman who was sexually assaulted is yet to be identified.
Three accused were involved in “penetrative sexual assault”, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Guwahati (West), Padmanabh Baruah told media persons, and one of them is absconding. He further said that the video showed the victim unclothed and subjected to “violent sexual assault”.
“The video was received by our officer-in-charge, who took prompt action as the culprits’ faces were clearly visible. Our team visited the area where the crime took place, and upon enquiring, identities of a few accused were established. Others were arrested from Jalukbari, Garchuk and Noonmati areas,” said DCP Baruah.
Police said the group of nine men had attended a ‘Raas Mahotsav’ in the locality, and one of them was accompanied by the alleged victim. They visited a spot close to a Durga temple in the area, and some of them had reportedly consumed alcohol and engaged in substance abuse. One of them recorded the alleged gang rape.
“Our operation is underway, we have collected enough evidence, but the victim has not been identified yet,” said Baruah, adding that once the identity of the woman is established, a case would be registered based on her statement or the police would take up the case suo motu.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)