There were massive street protests in Assam on Friday after three men allegedly raped an underage girl in Nagaon district. The attack took place on Thursday in Dhing district of Nagaon. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that strict action would be taken against those responsible.

“We will not spare anyone and will bring the culprits to justice. I have instructed @DGPAssamPolice to visit the spot and ensure speedy action against such monsters,” Sarma posted on X.

“The criminals who dared to commit such a heinous crime against a minor Hindu girl in Dhing will not be spared by the law. I have directed the DGP and Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika to rush to Dhing and take strictest action,” Sarma told reporters in Hailakandi on Friday.

Sarma claimed that since the Lok Sabha elections, “members of a particular community have been indulging in criminal activities. However, we will take strict action against the perpetrators and no one will be spared.”

On Friday morning, people from different sections of society took to the streets demanding the arrest of the perpetrators. Shopkeepers closed their shops while social and political groups demanded harsh punishment for the perpetrators and better security for women and girls, news agency PTI said. Tensions remained high in the area, leading to increased police patrols and vigilance.

A video released by news agency ANI showed a large group of men and women marching through Nagaon’s Dhing area chanting “We want justice” in response to the rape of the minor girl.

During the press conference, Chief Minister Sarma also pointed out that there have been 22 cases of crimes against women in the last two months, the 23rd such case in the state.

“In Lower and Central Assam and Barak Valley districts, the indigenous people, where they have become a numerical minority, live in constant fear. People outside these regions cannot appreciate this harsh reality,” he said.

The Prime Minister urged everyone to be sensitive to the concerns of the indigenous population. “We should identify the real perpetrators behind these heinous crimes and not limit ourselves to placing the blame on individual groups within the Hindu society,” Sarma said.

Details of the incident

According to police, the girl was attacked and raped by three people around 8 p.m. on Thursday as she was cycling home from school in the Dhing district.

The three attackers arrived on a motorbike, surrounded her and then allegedly raped her before leaving her injured and unconscious at a roadside pond. The Grade 10 student was later found and rescued by local residents who alerted the police.

She was initially taken to a health centre in Dhing and then shifted to a hospital in Nagaon for further treatment and medical examination. According to police, one suspect has already been arrested, another has been detained and efforts are on to arrest the remaining persons.

DGP GP Singh, accompanied by district police officials, visited Dhing to examine the crime scene, PTI reported.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)