Outrage in Karimganj: Minor Tries Molesting 3-Year-Old, Patrol Post I/c Transferred for Cover-up

A 16-year-old’s inhuman and indecent act has shaken the valley. Last Sunday a tense situation erupted outside the Longai Police Patrol Post in Karimganj. The incident stemmed from the obscene act of a 16-year-old boy in the locality when instead of arresting him, the thana In-charge (I/c) allegedly let him go. Mass gheraoed the thana and demanded the removal of the I/c of the Longai Police Patrol Post.

On Sunday, September 1, the mother of a 3-year-old girl left her home for some urgent errands, leaving her daughter in the care of a 16-year-old neighbour, Suvir (name changed). Suvir was asked to look after the child while her mother was away. However, when the mother returned, she was deeply disturbed by the scene she encountered. Allegedly Suvir had undressed the three-year-old and had undressed himself as well. When the mother returned and entered the room, this was the scene she saw and that took a toll on her. The mother was dumbfounded to see that a person of trust was trying to exploit the three-year-old sexually and molest her.

The victim’s family immediately took the Child in Conflict with the Law (CCL), in this case, Suvir, to the nearest police station, the Longai Police Patrol Post. They demanded his arrest, but Suvir’s mother defended him, claiming he was innocent and had only undressed the child without any further wrongdoing. Despite the victim’s family revealing the disturbing details, the Patrol Post I/c released Suvir without filing any charges, citing his status as a juvenile.

This angered the public and created widespread anger due to police inaction. A mob had gathered outside the patrol post on Sunday night demanding the removal of the in-charge and the arrest of the juvenile. The angered public questioned why was the 16-year-old let go without any investigation.

An angered youth said, “We don’t want what happened in West Bengal to repeat here. That was a blot on our society. We won’t let Karimgaj become like UP-Bihar. The 16-year-old who was tried to be saved by the police today (Sunday) will tomorrow think what he did was okay. Today the girl was saved as the mother thankfully reached home on time. Tomorrow he will think rape is also okay as he was let go by the police. I also have a 2-year-old and if something happens to her, where will I go if not the police station demanding justice? Even if the person is a juvenile, if he can commit a crime, he deserves to be punished”.

Karimganj SP Partha Protim Das responded to these demands and transferred the Patrol Post in charge with immediate effect. While talking to Barak Bulletin IPS Officer Das said, “The in-charge has informed none of us and tried to hide the incident. Whenever such matters of such gravity take place, he needs to inform an Officer-in-charge, DSPs or the SP (as it is a patrol post). None of us knew the incident when it took place and he tried to hide the matter when solving it himself. He doesn’t have the right to do so. A show-cause notice was issued for his actions and we will also conduct a departmental enquiry to find out the reality of the matter. As of now, he has been transferred but further actions will be taken following an enquiry”. The office of the Superintendent of Police was only informed when an angered public had gheraoed the patrol post.

On Monday morning the SP met with the family of the victim and the locals to understand the matter further. Speaking about the incident, Das told us, “The charges are serious. As per the procedure, the CCL has been produced before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and a case has been registered. As of now, the CCL is in a correction facility. The victim who unfortunately is a three-year-old has been sent to the Child Welfare Committee”. The SP too agreed on the seriousness of the matter and that an attempt was made, if no action is taken against the CCL then next time he will have a rapist mentality.