Outrage in Kohima after alleged sexual assault of girl

KOHIMA, AUG 25 : Tension brewed up in Kohima town with an angry mob vandalizing two footwear shops, belonging to one Md Shahin Ahmed, and burning their shoe stock. One of the shops was located at the Blue Market at the new NST area while the second was at the SABT complex at Razhii Point in the heart of the town. The incident was the fallout of a 22-year old Angami girl from Chiechama village allegedly being molested by 26-year-old Md Shahin Ahmed on the evening of August 24 around 6:00 pm near the Oking Hospital. The incident is reported to have happened when the girl was returning home from her sister’s shop located at the High School. It was reported that the accused hailed from Pharampashe in Karimganj of Assam and was residing at Midland in the town. It is alleged that he had been ‘watching’ and following the girl since the past two months. It was reported that on the night of the incident, the accused followed her from the new NST area till Oking Hospital at which the accused started touching her. Later, he allegedly grabbed her from behind, gagged and pulled her to a secluded place and started touching her. On being alerted through the phone, the victim’s elder sister came with some people which led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was beaten and subsequently handed over to North Police Station. Leaders of the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO), the Angami Students’ Union (ASU), and the Northern Angami Youth Organisation (NAYO) along with the police managed to bring the situation under control. The AYO has vehemently condemned the alleged assault. The AYO said in a press release that it was owning ‘moral responsibility for the incidence since the act was perpetrated under its jurisdiction.’ However, the organization added that ‘in the context and the intended degree of the crime, the acts carried out by the youth are deemed befitting’. In the joint statement, the AYO has directed the family of Shahin Ahmed to leave Kohima immediately as per customary traditions of the land. The AYO stated further that ‘failing which the same case of penalty (would) be awarded.’ The organization also warned of stern action against any individual and community applying for bail for the accused.