Shillong: A 21-year-old man from Mizoram, who was wanted in connection with a rape and sexual exploitation case, surrendered before the police at Laitumkhrah Police Station in Shillong on Thursday.
The accused had been on the run since early July after an FIR was registered against him, prompting the East Khasi Hills police to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and issue a nationwide lookout notice to trace him.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said the accused has been taken into police custody and will be produced before the court for further legal proceedings.
Police have booked him under Sections 3, 4, 11 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with Section 64(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The case has attracted widespread public attention after social media posts alleged that several other young women may have been targeted by the accused. However, police have maintained that, so far, only one survivor has come forward and lodged an FIR.
The FIR in the case was registered on July 7, following which the police urged anyone who may have been subjected to similar alleged offences by the accused to approach the authorities and file a complaint.