Jorhat girl posts molestation details on Facebook, triggers protests; Assam minister slammed for sexist comment

Guwahati: A Facebook post by a teenage girl in Jorhat about her alleged sexual harassment by a group of motorcycle-borne people has triggered widespread protests across the BJP-ruled state with hundreds of students coming out in support of the victim.

The protesters are demanding security for women and arrest of those involved in the shameful incident.

“They come under the cover of darkness, their faces hidden behind their helmets. I try and move to the side of road but they follow me. They fondle my breasts and drive away. I freeze at the spot…,” the girl reportedly wrote in a Facebook post, which has now become viral.

In her post, the victim also talked about the repeated assaults on other women living in the locality  which has left her so traumatised that she has stopped moving out after sunset.

Meanwhile, an alleged sexist comment by an Assam government minister has added fuel to the fire, triggering calls for his resignation.

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Parliamentary affairs minister Chandra Mohan Patowary came under fire after he said that the girl was an activist of the Left-wing Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and ridiculed her for making her ordeal public on social media instead of seeking police help.

Irked with his remarks, activists questioned the minister whether the sexual harassment was prompted by the victim’s leftist ideology, triggering protests in Jorhat, Golaghat, Sonitpur and Guwahati.

The issue was also discussed in the Assembly on February 13 when some legislators raised the matter.

An IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar, a former superintendent of police in Jorhat, wrote a Facebook post backing the girl going public with her ordeal.

Public meetings, rallies and signature campaigns were held against helmet-wearing youths who allegedly groped, harassed and verbally abused the girl in Jorhat last week.

Sahitya Akademi winner Nirupama Borgohain lauded the girls courage for bringing the issue in public domain in the interest of others risking her own security.

Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi also took Twitter to slam the incumbent BJP government.

The State Govt should ensure to protect the rights of every girl irrespective of political beliefs.The law is not for BJP-ABVP-RSS only..1/2 — Tarun Gogoi (@tarun_gogoi) February 14, 2017

Indelicate remarks of Minister @cmpatowary & silence of Education Minister @himantabiswa in support of the victim student is very woeful.2/2 — Tarun Gogoi (@tarun_gogoi) February 14, 2017

The speakers in the rally said that the government should take measures to stop such harassment and provide security to women in the state.

Assam Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay has said the girl has not lodged any complaint with the police but the force registered a suo motu FIR and investigations are on. However, no arrest has been made so far. 

With PTI inputs