Minor Raped in Cachar, Terrorised With Acid Attack Threats; Private Videos Circulated Online

A 17-year-old schoolgirl from the Dudhpatil area, located on the outskirts of Silchar, was subjected to sexual assault, relentless digital blackmail, and acid attack threats by her alleged boyfriend. Police in the Cachar district have launched a manhunt for a 19-year-old accused, identified as Rahul (alias Rohit) Biswas, who is accused of using the threat of an acid attack to coerce the minor.

The family lodged a complaint at the Malugram Police Station on December 15 after the victim’s guardians received the purported videos on December 13. Cachar Police registered a case under stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The charges include rape, sexual harassment, and the use of a child for pornographic purposes. Authorities believe the accused is currently hiding in Bengaluru and have initiated coordination with external agencies to track his digital footprint.

According to the victim’s testimony, the ordeal began when the accused allegedly stalked her on her way to school. After she repeatedly declined his advances, the accused reportedly threatened to disfigure her with acid. Fearing for her safety, the girl felt compelled to comply with his demands.

The victim stated that the accused later recorded private videos and took photographs without her genuine consent, using these materials as leverage. When she refused to meet him at a hotel, the accused allegedly escalated his abuse. After a brief period, the accused reportedly broke off contact but subsequently began circulating the private footage online.

The impact on the teenager has been devastating. She has stopped attending school and reportedly attempted to take her own life due to the public humiliation and constant harassment. The accused is alleged to have created at least five or six fake social media profiles in the victim’s name to distribute the content.

“I am unable to go anywhere or meet my friends because of his constant interference,” the victim told the media. She added that the accused continues to threaten her and her brother with physical violence and acid attacks, claiming that his family’s wealth grants him immunity from the law.

Her mother said, “My daughter is unable to go to school because he called and threatened that he would abduct her from there. My daughter is completely trapped, and he keeps publishing these videos from new social media handles.”

Her brother said, “Among all the videos, only one is originally hers, while the others are AI-generated.” The accused’s mother was contacted by the family, and she allegedly defended her son by saying that she has only one son and that if he does not live his life, then who will? He also blamed that, “Police didn’t take the case seriously for many days”.

The police have invoked several serious legal provisions to address both the physical and digital nature of the crimes:

• BNS Section 64 & 77: Pertaining to punishment for rape and sexual harassment.
• BNS Section 308(3) & 351(2): Covering extortion and criminal intimidation.
• POCSO Act Section 6 & 14(3): Addressing aggravated penetrative sexual assault and the distribution of child pornography.

SSP, Cachar, Partha Pratim Das, talking to Barak Bulletin, said that the accused is currently out of station and the police are working to apprehend him. He added that not much information can be shared at the moment, but assured that action is underway.

Local residents and activists in Choto Dudhpatil have expressed outrage over the incident. They have called for the immediate removal of the offensive content from social media platforms and the swift extradition of the accused to Cachar to face trial. Police officials have stated that they have successfully traced the accused and expect to make an arrest shortly.