Peren police arrests man for rape attempt on minor girl

Our Reporter

Dimapur, May 7 (EMN): Peren police on Friday arrested one person for allegedly attempting to rape a minor girl at New Jalukie in Peren district.

A source from the Zeliang Students’ Union told Eastern Mirror that the incident happened on May 5 evening when the 17-year-old girl was returning from school.

The culprit sexually assaulted the student who was in a school uniform but rape was averted after screamed for help, the source said, adding that the girl reported the incident to her parents when she reached home and an FIR was subsequently lodged at a police station by the victim’s family.

The accused was caught by the victim’s relative from the town on May 6, after which the police intervened and arrested him, the source was told.

It was also learned that the accused, who works as a labourer, had past record of sexual assault on two occasions and was banished from Jalukie. However, he returned to the town, so the student body is also trying to find out the person who brought him to the town again, the source informed.

A press release issued by the office of the Superintendent of Police, Peren, informed that the victim was assaulted by the accused but “she managed to resist and shout for help causing the accused to run away before further harm could be done”.

“Subsequent medical examination has confirmed that rape did not occur. Intention of the accused with regard to attempt to rape is being examined as part of the case investigation,” it read.

The accused involved in the May 5 incident has been arrested on receipt of the FIR lodged on May 5 and a case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the law, including the POCSO Act, it stated.

It also asked the people “to refrain from issuing statements presumptively on such sensitive issues without first establishing facts as these may cause an undesirable law and order situation, further trauma to the victim and family, besides also hindering the ongoing investigation of the case”.

Meanwhile, the Zeliangrong Students’ Union  has condemned the act meted out to the minor and urged the authority to award a befitting punishment to the culprit.