Tura: In an absolute shocker, two minors from the district of South West Garo Hills (SWGH) were brutally gang-raped and assaulted by a gang of miscreants, leaving the entire Garo Hills shocked over what took place.
According to police reports, the two minors had attended the annual fair at Chenga Benga accompanied by two friends. While the assaulted parties were not acquainted with each other, they were purportedly attacked by the same group of suspected criminals.
The incident occurred on April 17 at approximately 9:30 PM near the venue of the ongoing fair. Three separate FIRs have been filed in connection with the case at the Ampati PS.
“These are two separate incidents altogether as the two minor victims did not know each other. The first minor went along with her friend (a minor boy) a little away (300 metres from the fair) near the paddy fields. It seems the perpetrators of the crime lay there in wait and immediately pounced on them,” informed South West Garo Hills SP, Vikas Yadav.
After apprehending the two individuals, they were detained, and the boy was subjected to such severe physical assault that he lost consciousness. Subsequently, the assailants also assaulted the girl, causing her to lose consciousness, after which she was sexually assaulted. Due to her loss of consciousness, she was unable to identify the perpetrators.
Later, another minor with her friend (another minor boy) also went near the same place where the same gang awaited them.
“It seems they were lying in wait to perpetrate a crime. It could be either to loot or sexually assault but they sensed their opportunity and took advantage of the dark and the situation,” added the SP.
Interestingly in the second case, the minor boy was tied up before being beaten while the girl was also physically assaulted. She however did not lose consciousness and recollected the perpetrators taking advantage of her, one by one.
“After the perpetrators left the scene, the first group regained consciousness and being utterly confused about what took place helped each other free and left for home. It was only the next day, April 18, when 3 cases were registered. The perpetrators, as per the victims, were Bengali-speaking. An investigation into the matter is currently on and we are hopeful of a breakthrough,” informed Yadav.
The area where the incident took place falls very close to the border with Assam, with the suspects likely, hailing from the state.
“We are not making assumptions but we will hopefully get a breakthrough in the coming 2-3 days. The matter is extremely serious and sensitive so we are being extremely cautious and thorough,” asserted the SP.