In a case of moral policing, three women were arrested in Dhubri district of Lower Assam for assaulting and confining a 40-year-old lady by villagers as she had protested against marriage of her minor boy.
The arrested women are Ashiran Bewa, Mosiran Bibi and Fateza Bibi.
The incident occurred on October 3 last at Boterhat village, about 50 km away from Golakganj in Dhubri district where one woman was assaulted and thrashed by other women of the same village.
This was the first case of moral policing in the district and the police have already arrested three women while a manhunt for five others is under process, police said.
Gunindra Deka, Additional Superintendent of Police, Dhubri told Northeast Now that based on information furnished by the victim’s husband, Moynal Houqe, a case has been registered at Golakganj Police Station bearing No 1030/2018 under 147 (Punishment for rioting),148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon),323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (B)-(Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 342 (Punishment for wrongful confinement), 325 (Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt),326 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) and 307 (Attempt to Murder) of the IPC.
In his complaint, Moynal Houqe, husband of the victim, alleged that villagers of Boterhat assaulted his wife while she raised voice against marriage of her minor child.
The video of the assault, which went viral on the social media, clearly shows that some of the women villagers were tonsuring the head of the victim while other male villagers were recording the incident in their mobile phones. A woman was also seen beating the victim with bamboo sticks.
The incident of moral policing took place in front of a huge gathering of villagers including children who were enjoying the whole incident.
The entire incident occurred on October 3.
“The police from Chagolia outpost rushed to the village and rescued the victim after receiving the information,” the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Dhubri added.
Notably, the child is the son of the victim and her ex-husband Montu Seikh allegedly tried to get him married, police further added.
