Shillong, Jan 16: A 19-year-old participant at the National Youth Festival held in New Delhi has alleged sexual assault.
According to the FIR lodged with the officer- in -charge, Sadar Police Station, here on January 15 , a sports department official received a telephonic information on January 14 from a Junior Basketball Coach, Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, Meghalaya regarding the incident
The junior coach was one of the officers who accompanied the state team to Delhi on January 7 for the festival from January 10 to 12.
The contingent consisted of 51 members -30 boys and 21 girls besides 3 escorting officials.
The boys’ group along with a male escorting officer was housed at Hotel Red Castle 7A/78 W.E.A. Channa Market, Karol Bagh, New Delhi from January 9-13.
The girls’ contingent along with two escorting officers were housed at Hotel Tripple Tree, 7A,73, Bangali Pooja Road, Channa Market, Block 7, WEA, Karol Bagh, New Delhi.
The escorting officer told the sports official that during the train journey when the contingent was on its way back to Shillong, the 19-year-old victim informed her that on January 13 while the rest of the female contingent had gone for marketing and when she was alone in her room (No 306), around 4 pm, one person forcibly entered her room while two others remained outside.
The accused restrained her against her will, and committed sexual assault on her. She recognised the perpetrators as painters at the hotel.
Around 6.30 pm when she regained consciousness, she tried to call her friends on phone, but were not reachable. Hence she informed the local volunteers of the organising committee that some people had forcibly entered her room, but out of fear and shame, she did not reveal details about the incident.
The victim out of fear, shame, and having travelled outside the state for the first time, could only confide regarding the full details of the incident to the escort officer on January 14 during the return journey to Shillong by train.
The complainant sought action against the perpetrators of the crime.
Police have registered a case.
