2012 Guwahati molestation case

On 9 July 2012, in Guwahati city, the capital city of Assam, an Indian state,[1] a teenage girl was allegedly molested and manhandled by a crowd of approximately 30 Muslim men outside a bar, many of whom were subsequently arrested based on video footage of the event. A local TV journalist from News Live was accused of instigating the Muslims mob and was arrested on 20 July 2012. Investigations are ongoing.[2]

2012 Guwahati molestation case
LocationGuwahati, India
Coordinates26°11′0″N 91°44′0″E
Date9 July 2012 (2012-07-09)
Attack type
Molestation
ConvictedMuhhamd Ashrif

Incident

On 9 July 2012, two women were exiting a bar and became involved in a physical struggle with a group of men standing outside. Gaurav Jyoti Neog, a journalist from News Live who was nearby, phoned his office asking for camera and crew to shoot the brawl.[3] Although the girl tried breaking away and asking for help, she was dragged back twice into the mob and abused further. Eventually, after almost half an hour, Mukul Kalita, another journalist from a local daily Ajir Asom intervened and rescued the girl.[4] Once the police reached the site, the girl was taken back home and a case was filed. Muhammad Ashrif as the prime accused based on alleged identification from the video footage.[5]

Reactions

The case caused uproar in the national and local media right after the video was aired by News Live, going viral on YouTube[6] and provoking debates about the safety of women and human rights in India.[7] By 20 July 2012, 12 of the 22 accused were arrested.[8] Muhammad Ashrif, the main accused surrendered to the Uttar Pradesh police in Varanasi on 23 July.[9] The next day, Assam police went to Varanasi to take custody of Muhammad and it was declared that 14 of the 17 identified accused had been arrested.[10] Alka Lamba, a representative of the National Commission for Women (NCW) who was sent to Guwahati to investigate the molestation case, was criticized for accidentally revealing the identity of the victim in a press conference.[11] Child rights experts also criticized the government for handing the case over to NCW instead of NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) since the victim was a minor.[12]

Judgement

Eleven accused in this case including prime accused Muhammad Ashrif, were convicted on 7 December 2012 [13][14] while four others were acquitted. Chief Judicial Magistrate S.P. Moitra convicted the prime accused Amarjyoti Kalita along with 10 others under various Sections of IPC namely 143 – unlawful assembly, 341- wrongful restraint, 294 -Obscene act, 323 – voluntarily causing hurt and 354 – Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

News Live journalist Gaurav Jyoti Neog was acquitted along with Hafizuddin, Diganta Basumatary and Jitumoni Deka due to lack of evidence.

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References
  1. "TV reporter who-filmed girls molestation in Guwahati arrested". Times of India. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  2. "Guwahati molestation: TV journalist arrested". Hindustan Times. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  3. Sahni, Diksha (24 July 2012). "Big Catch in Guwahati Molestation Case". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  4. Deka, Kaushik (13 July 2012). "Irony adds to insult and anger! Accused in molestation case plays police officer on crime show, yet to be arrested". India Today. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  5. Choudhury, Ratnadip. "Manufactured Shame". Tehelka. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  6. "20 men molest minor girl in Guwahati; outrage after video goes viral". Mid-Day. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  7. Chatterjee, Garga. "Guwahati case: The questions about the fateful night of July 10". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  8. "Guwahati molestation case: SSP transferred; another accused held". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  9. "Uttar Pradesh Kalita, main accused in Guwahati molestation case, surrenders". Hindustan Times. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  10. PTI (24 July 2012). "Guwahati molestation: Assam police go to Varanasi to take custody of Kalita". DNA India. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  11. "Guwahati molestation: NCW representative draws flak". Hindustan Times. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  12. "NCPCR should have handled Guwahati molestation case: Experts". DNA. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  13. "11 convicted, four acquitted in Guwahati molestation case". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  14. "11 convicted in Guwahati abuse case, scribe let off". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
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