KACHUGAON (Assam): On March 11 a 15 year old tribal girl was raped and two others molested by some personnel of the Assam Police Task Force (APTF) at Rupnathpur near here while other villagers were made to run for their lives by gun toting members of the police raiding party, it was learnt here on Saturday.

The aged mother of the rape victim was made to sit in an adjoining room at gun point and all her pleas to the security personnel fell on deaf ears. Some of them even molested the old lady. The other villagers were forced to run away to a distance.

The incident, which has spread panic in the area took place midway through the recent 175 hour bandh on March 5. Since the Rupnathpur hamlet is located at a remote place, the information about the rape and molestation trickled to nearby places on Saturday.

Some of the village elders took the victim, Sonati Basumata to a State government dispensary at Patakhata for medical examination on the day following the incident, Dr.. R.C. Aditya who examined her with the help of Mrs. Jirblaa Narzary has said in his report that the minor girl had suffered severe injuries and has certified that it “might” be a case of rape and assault,” as per certificate number 85/PKSD dated March 6, 1989. They also examined 13 year old Nirola Basumatary and certified that she too had suffered injuries. Fortunately for her, she was able to escape from the clutches of the security personnel. Another minor girl, Nilanshi Narzary of Takampur village, also escaped an attempt to rape but suffered some: injuries,

The assailant, according to the villagers dropped his service cap in the melee which has now been kept in safe custody. The vital clue can lead to his identity. It bears the name “Om Nathu” on the inside cloth written with a ballpoint.

Narrating the incident the village pradhan Mr. Chuni Ram Hazaori said that a group of 70 to 80 police personal belonging to the Assam Police Task Force raided the village during day time. They encircled the village and flashed their weapons. While some of the residents had already fled away, they forced the others to run away. They caught hold of two minor girls and some of them dragged them to a house. One of them managed to escape but the other girl was cornered. When her mother ran to save her daughter, she was forced to sit at gun point in the adjoining room.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 24, 1989