Silchar Woman Alleges Molestation At Durga Puja Pandal; Committee Calls It ‘Fake Case’

Silchar has been rocked by a controversy surrounding an alleged sexual assault incident at the Ullaskar Dutta Sarani Durga Puja pandal on the night of Dashami (October 3). While the complainant has accused four men from her neighbourhood of molestation and physical assault, the Durga Puja Committee members have dismissed her allegations as “absolutely fake,” claiming that she was “mentally unstable” and possibly “under the influence of alcohol” during the scuffle. Police have detained the four accused and launched an investigation into the matter. Puja committee members, however, demanded the arrest of the complainant along with her brother and mother.

At a press conference held at Silchar Press Club on Sunday, the complainant, a resident of Jail Road, recounted her ordeal and named four men from her neighbourhood — Arindam Choudhury, Anirban Choudhury, Sumit Roy, and Debtanu Raha — as the accused.

She alleged that around 1 AM, when she went to the pandal to collect holy water and prasad, the four men, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, surrounded her, hurled obscene remarks, and physically assaulted her.

“When I tried to leave, Arindam grabbed my hand. As I tried to free myself from him, he tore my bracelet. Sumit Roy then caught hold of my collar and threatened to strip me naked and tear my clothes. They dragged me, hit me, and hurled obscene words. They forgot that I was their sister, who grew up in the same lane. When my brother and mother rushed to help, they too were pushed and threatened,” she told reporters.

She further alleged that the accused were under the influence of drugs and alcohol and “boasted of being above the law and unafraid of police action.”

“They always create a nuisance in the lane, harass women, and consume alcohol right outside the residence of the Jail Superintendent, who has rebuked them several times. We women don’t feel safe. These men are a threat to society,” she said.

According to her, she immediately contacted the Additional SP, Cachar, following which a police team reached the spot within minutes and rescued her. Police sources confirmed that a medical examination was conducted, and an FIR was registered at Silchar Sadar Police Station. The four accused were subsequently detained and taken into custody.

However, the survivor claimed that soon after the arrests, the families of the accused allegedly attacked her residence, prompting her to call the police again.

“A commando team had to be sent to control the mob. Since then, I have been receiving phone calls with threats and monetary offers to withdraw the case. But I will not withdraw the case, because they are criminals, and if they are let free, tomorrow they will do the same with others,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Ullaskar Dutta Sarani Durga Puja Committee and the families of the detained men have dismissed the allegations, calling the case “absolutely fake.”

“The entire fiasco started when we committee members, told her to keep the prasad plate in its place after she had taken the khichuri prasad. With this, the entire argument began, and she made it into a molestation case, wrongly accusing four people from our lane who are innocent,” said a female member of the committee.

They further alleged that the complainant’s claims of sexual assault were fabricated.

“There was no harassment or molestation. Contrary to what she said, we were all present here. We just told her to keep the plate at its place, but she started hurling abuses at us. She even demanded to see the financial records of the puja committee. We told her that accounts are reviewed after the puja is over in a meeting open to all members. But she kept provoking us, saying she had police power behind her and could take any action she deemed fit,” added the committee member.

They also claimed that the woman had physically assaulted one of the committee’s elderly members.

“She pushed a senior citizen during that scuffle, and the woman fainted. We took her to the hospital, and she is still under treatment,” said another committee member.

The committee denied all allegations of molestation, calling them “baseless and false.”

“She told the police that male members of the committee molested her, but that is absolutely false. She was not even touched by any female members, let alone molestation by the males. She seemed mentally unstable — maybe drunk — so we tried to avoid her. But she pushed and shoved us in a drunken state and tried to scratch people with her nails and used obscene language,” they alleged.

They also questioned the absence of any eyewitness in support of her version.

“How can there be no eyewitness supporting her statements, whereas all the families are backing those apprehended? This is a fake case,” the committee members claimed.

Police officials confirmed that an investigation is underway to verify both sides of the incident.