Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Mar 27: In another instance of public vigilante , two men were paraded naked around Yingkiong town in Upper Siang district on 26 March after they allegedly raped a minor girl near the under-construction Gandhi Bridge there on the evening of 25 March.
Videos and photographs on social media sites show the two men being paraded naked around the town with their hands tied behind their backs, before being handed over to the police.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Central Range), John Neihlaia informed that four men – all in their early 20s -were reportedly involved in the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl.
He informed that the girl had befriended the boy over the phone and went out with him on Sunday, when she was allegedly raped by him and three of his friends. She was later dropped back at her home at around 2 am on Monday.
Following the incident, her parents filed a complaint with the police on the same morning.
“The victim’s relatives and neighbours caught two of the accused and handed them over to the police,” Neihlaia informed, adding that a search has been launched to nab the other two accused. A police team has been dispatched to Jengging in search of the duo, he said.
Meanwhile, the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) and the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCW-cum-APSCPCR) vehemently condemned the alleged rape of the minor.
The commission extended condolence to the victim’s family and expressed deep sadness and anguish over the occurrence of such incidents.
APSCW Member Secretary Yame Higio requested everyone to cooperate with the district administration and the police so that justice may be delivered to the victim and her family.
The commission also requested the Upper Siang superintendent of police to nab the culprits under the POCSO Act, and to give them exemplary punishment. It further called on the law enforcing agencies to expedite the preparation of the charge-sheet against the culprits to ensure a speedy trial.
Similar cases of mob outrage and vigilante justice have surfaced over the past few months.
Earlier this month, a man accused of raping a 12-year-old was paraded naked around Daporijo town before he was handed over to the police.
On 17 February, a five-year-old was allegedly raped by her school teacher in Yingkiong. A mob attacked the police station on 19 February when reports came out that the accused was being sent to Aalo (West Siang) in apprehension of a hostile atmosphere.
On 19 February, a mob dragged out two alleged rapists and killers of a five-year-old from the Tezu police station and lynched them in the town market.
