Assam University Scholar Lodges FIR As Auto Driver Flashes Private Parts; Cachar Police Arrests Driver

In yet another alarming incident of harassment, a female student of Assam University was subjected to indecent behaviour by an auto driver near the Irongmara area of the Cachar district on Monday evening. The student, who is also a research scholar at the university and hails from West Bengal, was on her way home after classes when the disturbing event unfolded.

According to reports, the student boarded an auto rickshaw as usual and was asked by the driver to sit in the front seat because the back seat was occupied with goods. Upon reaching her destination, when she attempted to pay the fare, the driver shockingly exposed himself to her, leaving the student frightened and traumatized. The driver allegedly made lewd comments during the journey as well.

Immediately after the incident, the distressed student filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Assam University Police Outpost, demanding swift action against the perpetrator. The Assam University Student Union quickly intervened to support the victim. The Union’s President, Shubham Roy, released a statement condemning the incident and recounting the union’s proactive measures in apprehending the accused driver.

“Yesterday, on the day of Rakhi, one of our sisters from West Bengal faced a very unfortunate and disturbing incident,” Roy stated. “The auto driver misbehaved with her and indecently pulled down his jeans and showed her his private parts when she was paying the fare. Later when she shared this with us, we jumped into action and started searching for him. We also filed an FIR at the police station but 24 hours had passed, but the police failed to apprehend the driver”.

“Later when another sister of ours revealed that she also had a similar experience with an auto driver, she shared with us a phone number which might be of the same auto driver. We called the number and asked him to reach the university gate and to our luck that was the same auto driver who flashed the victim. Before the police could do anything, we the Student Union apprehended this criminal and handed him over to the police”, the student leader said further.

The student union was successful in locating the suspect, identified as Badruz Zaman Farque, a resident of Fakirtilla near NIT Silchar. Before the police could apprehend him, the student leaders held him and handed him over to the police authorities.

Cachar Police Superintendent, Numal Mahatta confirmed to Barak Bulletin that the driver is now in police custody. The incident has sparked outrage among the university community, with the Student Union questioning the safety measures in place for students, especially outside the campus gates. They have urged the district administration to enhance security, including the installation of CCTV cameras to deter such incidents in the future.

As the investigation continues, the university community is left shaken by this distressing incident, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures to protect students in the area.