GUWAHATI: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has sought the trial of the accused in last week’s alleged gang-rape and murder of a 21-year old woman in Assam’s Karbi Anglong be held in a fast-track court.
“I spoke with the officials concerned and instructed them to ensure that those who are still on the run be arrested at the earliest. Nobody should be spared. The Commission wants that the accused be tried in a fast-track court,” NCW member, Sushma Sahu, told reporters in Guwahati on Saturday.
Sahu also said she would write to Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Director General of Police, Mukesh Sahay, so that action would be taken at the earliest.
The NCW member was in Guwahati to hear some cases registered with the Commission earlier.
Earlier, the Assam State Commission for Women (ASCW), which registered a suo moto case, had sought a report from the police.
“We have received the police report. They have written about the actions taken so far and the progress of their investigation,” ASCW chairperson, Chikimiki Talukdar, told The New Indian Express.
The police have, so far, arrested six persons in connection with the case and at least two others are yet to be arrested. The accused, including a juvenile, had allegedly gang-raped the victim and killed her, ostensibly to evade arrest. Sources said the victim and the accused were residents of two neighbouring villages.
After allegedly killing her, the accused had hung the body from a tree to make it appear like a case of suicide. The incident took place at Baithalangso when the victim, her male friend and another couple were returning home from a Bihu programme late at night. The accused drove the others away by beating them up before committing the crime.
The incident triggered outrage leading to a series of protests. The protestors demanded all the accused be arrested and action be taken at the earliest.