Girl was first murdered and then burnt: DGP
HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, April 24: The 12-year-old girl, who was burnt alive by her employers at Khaighar under Raha police station in Nagaon district on April 22, was pregnant, said the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) in an official communique here on Saturday.
The girl belonging to Karbi community, who was a domestic help, was burnt alive in the backyard of her owner’s house on April 22.
“After the arrest of the culprit, the Commission has been also informed by the neighbours of the accused that the victim child was sexually abused and became pregnant before she was killed,” ASCPCR said.
The ASCPCR has instructed Nagaon deputy commissioner and superintendent of police to investigate the case on fast track mode so that the charge sheet is prepared with incorporation of 4, 5 and 6 sections of the POCSO Act, 2012, Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and section 79 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 in addition to the provisions of IPC, the child right panel said.
The police have already arrested 70-year-old Prakash Chandra Barthakur and his 25-year-old son Nayanjyoti Barthakur in connection to the murder.
The Commission said, “On 22nd April 2021, information was received by ASCPCR that a girl child aged about 12 years was engaged in child labour by one Prakash Barthakur, village- Khaighar, PS- Raha, Nagaon district. It has been also informed to the Commission that the victim child was physically and mentally abused regularly by Barthakur.”
It added that it was informed to the Commission the minor was brutally killed on April 22 by setting her on fire. The body of the minor was sent for post mortem before the parents reached the spot.
Following the incident, various organisations on Friday gathered outside the residence of the accused where the victim’s body was found and demanded justice to the girl’s family.
“This is a case of heinous offense and one where a child has been murdered and the Commission has taken the case very seriously. The SP has assured the Commission that the charge sheet will be prepared on a fast track mode and justice shall be delivered,” it said.
Meanwhile, Assam Police director general Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said after initial inspection, police suspected that the girl was ‘murdered and then burnt’.
“As per her employer, the girl committed suicide. However, after initial inspection, it is suspected that she was murdered and then burnt. She was also underage to be working as a domestic help. Therefore, two accused were taken into custody immediately. Investigation is on,” Mahanta said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, Social organisations in Karbi Anglong continued their demand for justice for 12-year-old girl, who was allegedly tortured and burned to death by pouring kerosene on her body by Prakash Chandra Barthakur and his son Nayanjyoti Barthakur at Raha in Nagaon district on April 22.
Karbi Students Association president Thangsing Timung, Karbi Farmers Association president Tingku Engti and Karbi Students & Youth Council (KSYC) have demanded prompt action against the culprits and justice to the victim’s family.
Addressing a press conference at the KSA office, KSA general secretary Budho Terang said, “The postmortem report should be handed to us. We suspect the victim was raped and in order to hide the crime Barthakur and his son Nayanjyoti poured kerosene on her and burned her alive.”
KFA president Tingku Engti announced that the KSA, KFA and KSYC will be visiting Raha, where the incident took place to get the picture on the ground. Engti urged parents who have kept their wards as domestic help in other houses to bring them back.
KSYC general secretary Bipul Tisso said, “This incident has made clear how underdeveloped Karbi Anglong is, whatever our political leaders may say. If the district has developed why so many children from Karbi Anglong have to go and live outside in others’ homes and work for them”
Tisso appreciated the prompt action and positive response extended by the general public of Raha in the case. He appealed to both the print and electronic media to highlight the issue so that the law and order authority take quick action and justice is served. He also said that media houses have not focused on the issue.
The Karbi Lammet Amei (KLA) and Karbi Cultural Society (KCS) have submitted a memorandum to chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal through Karbi Anglong DC and demanded special attention on the case so that the culprits are punished.
The Rengma Naga Students Union, Dimasa Students Union, AJYCP, Kuki Students Association, Garo Students Association, All Adivasi Students Association of Assam and All Assam Bengali Youths Students Federation, Karbi Anglong Women Justice Forum have also condemned the incident and demanded justice.
The All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) staged a protest at Semson Sing Ingti Memorial Park demanding investigation and justice. Youths and students of Diphu town participated in the protest.