Five Arrested in Alleged Assault of Minor Girl at Guwahati Homestay
Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl at a homestay in Guwahati, the Assam Police said on Tuesday. The girl, a resident of Kamrup district, was reported missing over the weekend and was recovered by police in the Panbazar area early on the morning of 24 August.
The police have identified the accused as Parameswar Nath, reportedly from Goalpara, along with Hirkajyoti Das, Bishal Barua, Lakshidhar Nath and Rejip Ali. Two of the accused, Bishal Barua and Lakshidhar Nath, were employed at the Rangman Grand Homestay in Saukuchi, where the incident allegedly took place. All five have been detained and are being questioned.
The case began when the girl left her home on her own on Sunday. A missing person’s complaint was filed at the Dadara Outpost under Hajo Police Station on 23 August. The initial case was registered under Section 87 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relates to missing persons. During the investigation, police received information at around 5:47 AM on 24 August about a girl seen in the Panbazar area. The Officer-in-Charge of Dadara Outpost, along with the girl’s family members, reached the spot and safely recovered her near the Panbazar Pani Tanki.
In an official statement, the Assam Police provided the following account: "On 23 August, one FIR lodged at Dadara OP under Hajo Police Station regarding the disappearance of her minor who had left home on her own. Accordingly, Hajo PS Case No. 413/2026 U/S 87 of the BNS, investigation was taken up. During the course of investigation, at about 5:47 AM on 24 August, information was received that the missing minor girl was seen loitering in the Panbazar area of Guwahati. Acting promptly on the information, the IC, Dadara OP, along with the family members of the girl, reached the area and safely recovered her from near the Panbazar Pani Tanki. Based on investigation and statement of recovered victim girl sections 6/17 POCSO Act have been added. The victim has been medically examined, and her statement has been recorded before the Judicial Magistrate. SSP Kamrup, along with the Additional Superintendent of Police (HQ) and Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), is personally supervising the investigation."
The inclusion of Sections 6 and 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act makes the case a serious one. Section 6 deals with aggravated penetrative sexual assault, which carries a minimum punishment of ten years in prison, extendable to life imprisonment. Section 17 addresses abetment of an offence under the Act. The police have not specified which accused will face which charges, as the investigation is in its early stages.
Authorities have not released any further information about the circumstances leading to the incident. The identity of the minor is protected under the POCSO Act, and media have been advised to avoid reporting details that could uncover her identity. The investigation continues under the supervision of senior police officers, and the police have not ruled out additional arrests. The accused are currently in custody, and a final report will be submitted once the probe is complete. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
