2012 Guwahati molestation case: Difference between revisions

On 9 July 2012, in [[Guwahati]] city, the capital city of [[Assam]], an [[India]]n state,<ref>{{cite news|title=TV reporter who-filmed girls molestation in Guwahati arrested|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-20/guwahati/32763134_1_atanu-bhuyan-tv-reporter-news-live-channel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011083355/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-20/guwahati/32763134_1_atanu-bhuyan-tv-reporter-news-live-channel|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2013|accessdate=21 July 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=21 July 2012}}</ref> a teenage girl was allegedly molested and manhandled by a crowd of approximately 30 men outside a bar, many of whom were subsequently arrested based on video footage of the event. A local TV journalist from [[News Live (Indian TV channel)|News Live]] was accused of instigating the mob and was arrested on 20 July 2012. Investigations are ongoing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Guwahati molestation: TV journalist arrested|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Guwahati/Guwahati-molestation-TV-journalist-arrested/Article1-892644.aspx|accessdate=21 July 2012|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=20 July 2012}}</ref>

On 9 July 2012, two women were exiting a bar and became involved in a physical struggle with a group of men standing outside. Gaurav Jyoti Neog, a journalist from [[News Live (Indian TV channel)|News Live]] who was nearby, phoned his office asking for camera and crew to shoot the brawl.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sahni|first=Diksha|title=Big Catch in Guwahati Molestation Case|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/07/24/big-catch-in-guwahati-molestation-case/?mod=google_news_blog|accessdate=24 July 2012|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=24 July 2012}}</ref> Although the girl tried breaking away and asking for help, she was dragged back twice into the mob and abused further. Eventually, after almost half an hour, Mukul Kalita, another journalist from a local daily ''Ajir Asom'' intervened and rescued the girl.<ref>{{cite news|last=Deka|first=Kaushik|title=Irony adds to insult and anger! Accused in molestation case plays police officer on crime show, yet to be arrested|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/assam-girl-molestation-case/1/208117.html|accessdate=24 July 2012|newspaper=India Today|date=13 July 2012}}</ref> Once the police reached the site, the girl was taken back home and a case was filed. Muhammad Ashrif as the prime accused based on alleged identification from the video footage.<ref>{{cite news|last=Choudhury|first=Ratnadip|title=Manufactured Shame|url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main53.asp?filename=Ne280712MANUFACTURED.asp|accessdate=21 July 2012|newspaper=Tehelka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722191536/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main53.asp?filename=Ne280712MANUFACTURED.asp|archive-date=22 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The case caused uproar in the national and local media right after the video was aired by [[News Live (Indian TV channel)|News Live]], going [[viral video|viral]] on YouTube<ref>{{cite news|title=20 men molest minor girl in Guwahati; outrage after video goes viral|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2012/jul/130712-teen-girl-molested-by-twenty-guwahati-pub-video-viral.htm|accessdate=25 July 2012|newspaper=Mid-Day|date=13 July 2012}}</ref> and provoking debates about the safety of women and human rights in India.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chatterjee|first=Garga|title=Guwahati case: The questions about the fateful night of July 10|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column_guwahati-case-the-questions-about-the-fateful-night-of-july-10_1715901|accessdate=17 July 2012|newspaper=Daily News and Analysis}}</ref> By 20 July 2012, 12 of the 22 accused were arrested.<ref>{{cite news|title=Guwahati molestation case: SSP transferred; another accused held|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Guwahati/Guwahati-molestation-SSP-transferred-8-accused-held/Article1-890065.aspx|accessdate=21 July 2012|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Muhammad Ashrif, the main accused surrendered to the [[Uttar Pradesh]] police in [[Varanasi]] on 23 July.<ref>{{cite news|title=Uttar Pradesh Kalita, main accused in Guwahati molestation case, surrenders|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/UttarPradesh/Kalita-main-accused-in-Guwahati-molestation-case-surrenders/Article1-894264.aspx|accessdate=23 July 2012|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=23 July 2012}}</ref> The next day, Assam police went to Varanasi to take custody of Muhammad and it was declared that 14 of the 17 identified accused had been arrested.<ref>{{cite news|last=PTI|title=Guwahati molestation: Assam police go to Varanasi to take custody of Kalita|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_guwahati-molestation-assam-police-go-to-varanasi-to-take-custody-of-kalita_1719144|accessdate=24 July 2012|newspaper=[[DNA India]]|date=24 July 2012}}</ref> [[Alka Lamba]], a representative of the [[National Commission for Women]] (NCW) who was sent to Guwahati to investigate the molestation case, was criticized for accidentally revealing the identity of the victim in a press conference.<ref>{{cite news|title=Guwahati molestation: NCW representative draws flak|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Guwahati/Guwahati-molestation-NCW-representative-draws-flak/Article1-889990.aspx|accessdate=26 July 2012|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=16 July 2012}}</ref> Child rights experts also criticized the government for handing the case over to NCW instead of NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) since the victim was a minor.<ref>{{cite news|title=NCPCR should have handled Guwahati molestation case: Experts|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_ncpcr-should-have-handled-guwahati-molestation-case-experts_1717733|accessdate=26 July 2012|newspaper=DNA|date=20 July 2012}}</ref>

Eleven accused in this case including prime accused Muhammad Ashrif, were convicted on 7 December 2012 <ref>{{cite news|title=11 convicted, four acquitted in Guwahati molestation case|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/11-convicted-four-acquitted-in-guwahati-molestation-case/article4174500.ece|accessdate=8 December 2012|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=11 convicted in Guwahati abuse case, scribe let off|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Guwahati/Guwahati-molestation-case-Amarjyoti-Kalita-convicted-journalist-walks-free/Article1-969757.aspx|accessdate=8 December 2012|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref>  while four others were acquitted. Chief Judicial Magistrate S.P. Moitra convicted the prime accused Amarjyoti Kalita along with 10 others under various Sections of IPC namely 143 – unlawful assembly, 341- wrongful restraint, 294 -Obscene act, 323 – voluntarily causing hurt and 354 – Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty.