Shillong: Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills Police have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the assault of a 22-year-old woman after a video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting authorities to take suo motu cognisance of the case.
According to a press release issued by the Superintendent of Police, West Khasi Hills, Herbert Kharkongor, the incident occurred on the evening of June 28 along National Highway-44E on the Nongstoin Bypass Road. The assault had gone unreported until a video surfaced online later that night.
Based on the viral footage, police registered a suo motu case at Nongstoin Police Station under Case No. 43(6)2026 under Sections 74, 135 and 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and launched an investigation.
During the course of the probe, police identified the accused as Fasingson Wanniang (23), a resident of Mawkadiang village in West Khasi Hills district. Investigators said Wanniang is the woman’s former husband, and the two have reportedly been living separately for more than one-and-a-half years.
Police said the victim had gone out with her friends on the evening of the incident when she encountered the accused, who allegedly began assaulting her. Individuals seen in the viral video were questioned and were found to be key witnesses present at the scene.
The accused was apprehended on Monday morning by officers from Nongstoin Police Station with the assistance of the Village Defence Party Coordination and Networking Association (VDPCNA), Nongstoin, and the Village Defence Party (VDP) of Mawkadiang village. He was subsequently arrested and produced before the competent court.
Authorities said the victim is being provided all necessary assistance and has been referred to the One Stop Centre in Nongstoin for counselling and further support.
Meanwhile, the district police have strongly appealed to the public to refrain from sharing or forwarding the viral video, warning that circulating such content is a punishable offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
The police emphasised that revealing the identity of a victim of assault, directly or indirectly, is illegal and urged citizens not to spread unverified content, stating that doing so could amount to re-victimisation and hamper the ongoing investigation.
People with information related to the case have been urged to contact the Police Control Room at 9366498499 or dial 112, with police assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.
Kharkongor said strict legal action will be taken against the accused in accordance with the law and appealed to the public to cooperate with the investigation while exercising responsibility on social media.
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