In a sensational case that has shaken Guwahati, the capital of Assam, the police took swift action and arrested all five accused—Parmeshwar Nath, Hirakjyoti Das, Vishal Barua, Lakshmidhar Nath, and Rajip Ali—involved in a gang rape. The incident occurred at the 'Rangman Grand Homestay' in the Saukuchi area of the city, where a minor girl studying in the eighth grade was sexually assaulted. News of this horrific crime sparked outrage across the state. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the police administration immediately formed special teams and succeeded in putting all the named accused behind bars within twenty-four hours of the incident.
According to reports, Parmeshwar Nath, a resident of Goalpara, lured the victim to the Guwahati homestay under false pretenses. There, the accused held the minor captive and committed the heinous act of gang rape. Subsequently, they abandoned her on a road in the Panbazar area and fled. Acting on a complaint filed by the victim's family, the police promptly registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act, initiating an investigation. A forensic team visited the scene to collect evidence, and the victim was sent for a medical examination.
Accelerating the investigation, the police utilized digital surveillance and analyzed CCTV footage from the homestay, leading to the arrest of the prime accused, Parmeshwar Nath, along with his accomplices—Hirakjyoti Das, Vishal Barua, Lakshmidhar Nath, and Rajip Ali. Vishal Barua and Lakshmidhar Nath are reported to be employees of the homestay. The police are now thoroughly investigating how the minor was granted access to the room without proper identification or security verification, and whether the homestay management was directly complicit in this illicit activity.
This heinous crime has once again raised serious questions regarding the safety of women and minors, as well as the operation of homestays and paying guest (PG) accommodations in cities without strict regulation. The practice of renting out rooms without verification—and the occurrence of suspicious activities—at such commercially run establishments in residential areas is increasingly turning them into safe havens for criminal elements. Local citizens and social organizations have demanded a rigorous review of the licenses and security arrangements of all such homestays to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
Overall, this swift and stern action by the Guwahati police marks a significant first step towards justice. Expedited trials and the imposition of the harshest possible penalties under stringent laws like POCSO are essential to ensure genuine justice for the victim's family. Furthermore, both society and the administration must collaborate to ensure strict adherence to safety protocols in commercial establishments, thereby enabling the city's daughters to feel safe wherever they go.