In a significant breakthrough, Cachar police on Tuesday apprehended the prime accused in a harrowing case involving the alleged rape and digital exploitation of a minor girl. The 19-year-old suspect was detained at Silchar Airport immediately after he arrived on a flight from Goa, culminating a multi-state manhunt.
Arrest Follows Intensive Manhunt and Father's Detention
The arrest on Tuesday came after an FIR was first lodged at a local police station on December 15. Acting on a specific tip-off that the suspect had boarded a Goa-Silchar flight, the Cachar police coordinated closely with their Goa counterparts to ensure his capture upon landing. This development follows the earlier detention of the accused's father on December 28. While the father has not been charged under the Pocso Act, he remains in custody for his alleged involvement in criminal intimidation and conspiring to silence the victim's family.
Cachar Superintendent of Police Partha Pratim Das detailed the operation, stating that the suspect's movements were meticulously tracked through joint efforts. "We received a tip-off that he had boarded a flight from Goa. Our teams were ready at the airport to ensure he didn't slip away," Das said, highlighting the coordinated police action.
Details of the Alleged Crime and Digital Blackmail
According to the victim's complaint, the accused allegedly coerced the 17-year-old girl into a relationship by threatening to disfigure her with an acid attack. The abuse was compounded by the accused recording private videos during the assaults, which he later used as tools for blackmail.
The harassment escalated into a vicious digital campaign. Police state the suspect created multiple social media accounts to leak explicit content. He further intimidated the victim's family with threats of abduction and circulated private chats widely to damage her reputation. The relentless psychological pressure from the assault and the subsequent online harassment reportedly led the minor to attempt suicide and forced her to drop out of school.
Comprehensive Charges and Cyber Clean-Up Efforts
Authorities have registered a comprehensive case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The charges are severe and multifaceted, including:
- Section 64 (Rape)
- Section 77 (Sexual Harassment)
- Section 79 (Insulting the Modesty of a Woman)
- Section 308(3) (Extortion by Threat)
- Section 351(2) (Criminal Intimidation)
along with all relevant provisions of the Pocso Act.
Recognising the ongoing trauma caused by the leaked material, the police are now working with specialised cyber cells. Their focus is to ensure the permanent removal of all explicit content and private chats from various digital platforms. Police officials have affirmed their commitment to a fast-track investigation to deliver swift justice to the minor victim and her aggrieved family.
