Talap, Tinsukia, Assam: A protest over the alleged rape and attempted murder of a specially-abled woman brought traffic on National Highway-37 to a halt at Talap in Assam’s Tinsukia district on Saturday, with hundreds of demonstrators demanding swift investigation and stringent punishment for the accused.
The demonstration was organised by the Tinsukia district unit of the Gorkha Students’ Association and supported by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA), tea garden workers and local residents.
Protesters occupied the highway for several hours, burning tyres and raising slogans while calling for the case to be fast-tracked. They demanded that the accused face the maximum punishment permissible under the law if found guilty.
The protest followed an incident reported from Khobong Tea Estate on Friday. According to information from local residents, a man identified as Papu Ahmed allegedly assaulted the woman inside the tea garden and subsequently attempted to kill her before leaving the spot.
Tea garden workers reportedly discovered the woman and alerted nearby residents, who then informed the police. The incident triggered anger in the locality, with residents later gathering near the residence of the alleged accused.
Police subsequently arrested Ahmed in connection with the case and took him into custody. He was later brought to Doomdooma Police Station.
During the demonstration, some protesters demanded extremely severe action against the accused, including an encounter, while others called for action against his property and family. The protesters, however, primarily sought a speedy investigation and strict punishment through the legal process.
A large police contingent was deployed at the protest site to maintain law and order and prevent any escalation. Officials also attempted to persuade the protesters to withdraw the blockade so that traffic movement could resume.
The highway protest resulted in considerable disruption for commuters and other vehicles using the busy route.
The incident has sparked strong public concern in the area, with local organisations and residents urging the authorities to ensure a prompt investigation and take appropriate legal action against the accused.
