Assam man held for Shillong school girl assaults

Shillong: A 24-year-old man from Assam has been arrested in connection with two disturbing incidents of alleged sexual assault on schoolgirls in Shillong, Meghalaya. The arrest comes in the wake of widespread public outrage after a video of one of the incidents went viral on social media. The accused, Himan Gogoi, a resident of Jorhat, Assam, was apprehended on May 28 in a joint operation by East Khasi Hills Police and Assam Police. His arrest marks a significant breakthrough in two cases involving minors that were reported earlier this month in the Meghalaya capital. The first incident occurred on May 23 near the YWCA lane in Umsohsun, Shillong. A viral video showed a masked man lifting the skirt of a schoolgirl and taking photographs. The footage, timestamped at around 6:35 am, triggered public anger and led to an FIR at Lumdiengjri Police Station under Sections 76/79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 11/12 of the POCSO Act. A second, separate incident involving another schoolgirl was reported near Dreamland in Police Bazar on May 19 between 7:15 and 7:30 am. This case was registered at Sadar Police Station under Sections 7/8 of the POCSO Act. Both cases have been marked as Special Report cases due to the sensitive nature of the offenses. In response to growing concerns and the serious implications of the crimes, authorities formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on May 26. Working swiftly, the SIT traced Gogoi to Bamkukurachua village under Teok Police Station in Assam. During the arrest, police recovered his mobile phone and other crucial evidence, which may aid further investigation. Notably, Gogoi is also a suspect in another criminal case under the BNS, registered at Teok Police Station. Gogoi will be presented before a district court in Jorhat to obtain transit remand before being brought to Shillong for further legal proceedings. Police have assured that they are taking all necessary steps to ensure justice for the victims and have urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information. The shocking incidents have reignited concerns about safety for school-going children, especially in the early morning hours, prompting calls for increased vigilance and security measures in public areas.