Shillong, Apr 28: Police made 9th arrest from Hatsingimari, Assam on Sunday in connection with the Chenga Benga Mela rape incident involving minors in South West Garo Hills.
On April 27, the main accused was also arrested by the police from Teporpara Bazaar, Assam.
They were remanded to four days of police custody.
On April 26, police arrested three youths aged between 22 to 25 from South Salmara district of Assam bordering South West Garo Hills.
Out of the earlier four arrests, one was held from a bus in Rajabala, West Garo Hills when he was going to Guwahati, another from Teporpara (Assam-Meghalaya border) and two others by the Assam police from Hatsingimari, South Salmara, Assam.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the SP Vikash Kumar said based on the information related to abduction, criminal intimidation, assault, and gang rape of minors on April 16 at Chenga Benga Mela, a cognisable case vide Ampati Women PS Case No 09(04)2024 U/S 376D/323/341/506/34 IPC R/W Section 5(g)/6 of POCSO Act has been registered and is being investigated. Incriminating evidences were collected from the scene of crime and based on the statements of the survivors, medical examination reports, and other evidences, nine accused have already been arrested till date. All the arrested accused are residents of Teporpara village (Assam) located near the scene of crime and the arrests have been made with the assistance of South Salmara district police. Seven mobile phones have been seized from the possession of the arrested persons, and the data were analysed meticulously, the police said.
During the course of investigation, it was learnt that the criminals had snatched a mobile phone from one person and also, threatened and extorted money from another person. In this connection, two cognisable cases vide Ampati PS Case No. 36(04)2024 u/s 392/323/506/34 IPC, and Ampati PS Case No. 34(04)2024 u/s 341/395/384/506 IPC have been registered and are being investigated.
“Investigation in all these cases is going on and all the other accused shall be arrested soon. We appeal the citizens to inform the local police, if they have any information about the criminals involved in these cases. Their identity shall be kept secret”, Kumar added.
Photo caption: The place where the incident took place.
