Assam gang rape: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma stirred up a fresh controversy on Friday, August 23, when he blamed a "particular community" for the alleged gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in Nagaon district's Dhing area. CM Himanta assured that the criminals would not be spared and that each of them would be punished. However, he also alleged that a "specific community of people" had become active in the region and were committing crimes since the Lok Sabha elections concluded. The Congress has slammed the CM's remark, calling it a divisive tact.
"After the recent Lok Sabha elections we are seeing a specific community of people indulging in criminal activities. The perpetrators of the incident at Dhing, involving a Hindu minor, will be punished," he said. "The criminals who dared to commit such a heinous crime against a minor Hindu girl of 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 the toughest action. We will come down heavily on the perpetrators and nobody will be spared," Sarma added.
The Assam CM also stated that in the last two months, since the conclusion of the Lok Sabha polls, 22 instances of crimes against women had come to light and this was the 23rd such incident in the state. "In Lower and central Assam and Barak Valley districts, where indigenous people have become a numeric minority, they are living in constant fear. People outside these regions cannot gauge this harsh reality," he said.
CM Himanta further said that the actual perpetrators of the heinous crimes should be identified instead of "communities within the Hindu society" fighting with each other. "Today if such an incident occurs, people start an Assamese-Bengali fight. But no Bengali would [inappropriately] touch a girl. Assamese would blame Bengalis, Bengalis would accuse Assamese. Assamese would again blame Hindibhashis [Biharis, people from UP]. However, no one wants to identify the real enemy. That is the biggest irony."
Earlier today, the Assam CM had also posted on his X account about the horrifying incident at Dhing. He stressed that he would not spare anyone and had already ordered the police to take swift action against the perpetrators. "The horrific incident at Dhing, involving a minor, is a crime against humanity and has struck our collective conscience. We will NOT SPARE anyone & BRING the perpetrators to JUSTICE. I've directed DGP Assam Police to visit the site and ensure swift action against such monsters," Sarma posted on X.
'Miya People' Committing Crimes In Assam, Says BJP MLA
BJP MLA Manab Deka said that "Miya people" resided in the Dhing area of Assam, and committed crimes and atrocities. He claimed that there is a "brotherhood between the 'Miya' people and Congress" because of which only the latter has access to areas of Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, Nowgaon, and Morigaon.
He further asked the Congress to start a social movement in these areas as the 'Miya' people would only listen to them due to the "protection to its vote bank" given by the party. Muslims who have their origins in Bangladesh are usually referred to as Miyas or Miya Muslims or 'Na-Axomiya [non-Assamese]' in Assam.
Plot To Divide People: Congress
Reacting to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's claim that people of a "specific community" were involved in the crime in Dhing, Congress MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal said that classification of criminals on the basis of religion is "not acceptable at all". He said it was "CM Himanta's tactic to divide and classify the people on the basis of religion".
"It is a matter of great shame... I demand that the police and administration should arrest the culprit and put them in jail. They should be hanged till death. Though the POCSO Act provides for life imprisonment, I ask the law to be amended and such criminals should be hanged till death, if necessary. There should be no compromise at all. But criminals should not be identified on the basis of their religion, caste, or creed," the Congress MLA added.
Minor Raped In Assam's Nagaon
The 14-year-old girl was returning from her tuition on her bicycle when three men on a motorcycle accosted her. The minor was allegedly raped by them and left in an unconscious state on the roadside near a pond on Tuesday.
Later, she was rescued by some locals who found her on the roadside. She is currently admitted to a hospital in Nagaon for treatment and medical examination.
One person has already been arrested in connection with the case. A case has been registered under the POCSO Act and efforts are on to nab the others, Assam DGP GP Singh said.
"Yesterday at around 6:30 pm, one reprehensible incident took place here and 1 hour later the SP informed me about the incident and immediately we informed the Chief Minister. I directed the SP to visit the site and start the investigation. A case has been registered under the POCSO Act. Yesterday I was in touch with the SP and updated the Chief Minister also," Singh stated.
He further said that he visited the house of the victim and spoke with her family as per the directive of the CM.
"I also spoke with the police officials. As of now, Police have nabbed one suspect and there is lots of evidence. I think that we will be able to get mobile data within a short time. The investigation is on the right way," he added.