An elderly man was apprehended for sexually assaulting a young girl in the Mekhliganj area of Cooch Behar district, North Bengal. The victim, a sixth-grade student, was attacked by the man while gathering firewood at a riverbank, where she referred to him as grandfather. The incident was reported by the girl’s family, leading to the arrest of the accused individual.
The assault took place on Thursday when the minor girl went to collect firewood at the riverbank in Jamaldah, Mekhliganj. Allegedly, a 63-year-old man named Sheimutun Miyan used a sharp weapon to threaten and rape her. Following the assault, a local woman rescued the girl and brought her home, where she disclosed the traumatic experience to the media.
Despite the incident occurring days earlier, the victim’s family initially refrained from reporting it to the police due to intimidation from the accused, who resides in their vicinity. However, with the support of locals, the family eventually filed a formal complaint at the Jamaldah police outpost. Subsequently, law enforcement detained the accused and transferred him to the Mekhliganj police station for further legal proceedings.
A senior officer from the Mekhliganj police confirmed the arrest of the accused individual and the registration of a case against him. The community responded to the incident with a protest, blocking the state highway in Jamaldah by burning tires and engaging in stone pelting. The demonstration resulted in disruptions, with the officer-in-charge of the Mekhliganj police station sustaining minor injuries during the unrest. Police intervention was necessary to disperse the agitated crowd, leading to the detention of several protesters.
