Ukhrul, September 24: An incident involving an alleged abuse of two minor girls has left the local community in shock and outrage. On Tuesday, at around 12:20 PM, two girls, aged 10 and 11, were reportedly accosted by an Assam Rifles jawan, driver, near Phungreitang, Ukhrul. According to witnesses, the AR jawan allegedly attempted to forcibly drag one of the girls into the back of his Bolero vehicle while they were walking down the street.
Ashang Chiri, a local resident, witnessed the aftermath of the incident and described the scene: “I saw people gathering at the roadside and went to investigate what was happening. That was when I saw the two girls crying uncontrollably and pointing at the man.”
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Ashang Chiri further explained that the AR jawan appeared heavily intoxicated and was unable to walk properly when they approached him for questioning. It was only around 1:00 PM that the police arrived at the scene and took the accused jawan driver, identified as Madan Singh, into custody.
The police have confirmed that a complaint was lodged regarding the incident, which they have categorised under the section of kidnapping.
“This is a very sensitive case, and it is under investigation,” a police officer commented. However, due to a new rule under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the FIR could not be filed immediately.
The accused AR jawan has been released on a Personal Recognisance (PR) bond and is required to appear at the station whenever summoned.
Despite this, the Khampasom Tang Shanao Long, a local women’s organization, has demanded that an FIR be registered without further delay and that the accused face appropriate legal consequences. “We condemn the incident and demand that the FIR be filed as soon as possible,” said Vayola Thumra, Secretary of the Khampasom Tang Shanao Long.
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During a protest held in front of the police reserve line in Phungreitang, several women expressed their concerns for the safety of their children. One protester spoke on behalf of the community saying, “We are worried for our children. There is a scarcity of water in Ukhrul, so our children are out fetching water at night. Additionally, children who go for tuition often return home late. We want to feel assured that our children are safe, but incidents like this leave us feeling insecure and frightened.”