3 including minor held for rape-murder of 15-yr-old in Assam; ‘private parts mutilated’
Police say the assaulters knew the victim and one of them was in a relationship with her
Assam Police have arrested three teenagers for the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl in Hailakandi district.
The teen’s body reportedly bore grievous injuries and mutilation marks. Reports quoting police say that one of the accused was in a relationship with the victim.
The case is reminiscent of the gruesome Nirbhaya gangrape case in Delhi in 2012. The family of the deceased girl has demanded capital punishment for the accused.
Minor among accused
All the accused, aged between 17 and 19 years, have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Although one of the accused is a minor, police say they have appealed for him to be tried as an adult in view of the grievous nature of the crime.
Also read: Assam erupts in protest after 15-year-old found dead, face smashed, rod in private parts
“One of them is 17-and-a-half years old but considering the brutality of the case, we have appealed to the court to try him as an adult," NDTV quoted Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Hailakandi, Amitabh Sinha as saying.
Family was at feast during assault
According to reports, the crime occurred in the victim’s house in Aloichora area under Katlicherra police station at around 11 pm on Saturday (August 1). The girl’s family said they were attending a feast at the relative’s house at that time.
Her mother speaking to NDTV said her daughter also went to the feast, but returned home at around 10.30 pm after an argument with a cousin.
When the family returned home later, they found her lifeless body lying on the floor.
“It was horrible; how can a human treat another human, a little girl, in such a brutal manner?” she told NDTV.
The teen’s sister alleged that her attackers mutilated her body with utensils and other objects after the assault.
Victim's private parts were mutilated: Police
Police have confirmed the victim’s body bore severe torture marks and her private parts were mutilated.
Police had initially detained five youths for the crime, and later arrested the trio.
Police say the victim, a Class 10 student, was acquainted with the accused and one of them was her boyfriend. The exact cause behind the crime is yet to be ascertained.
The accused have been booked under section 65(1) (rape of a girl under 16), 103(1)(murder) of the BNS and section 6 of the POCSO Act.
Also read: Marital rape: Why law in India doesn’t criminalise it despite constitutional guarantees
Additional Superintendent of Police, Hailakandi, Samir Darpan Baruah, said more sections may be added as the investigation progresses.
Mobile phones of the accused have been seized, and they are being questioned, he said.
He said the accused have been forwarded to court. The ASP also urged the public and social media users not to reveal sensitive information about the case.
The rape-murder has triggered protests in Assam’s Barak Valley, with protesters demanding the death penalty for the accused.