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NCW seeks report from govt, 3 more held

By SPL CORRESPONDENT/STAFF REPORTER

NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI, June 10 - Assam Police on Monday arrested three more persons in connection with the alleged molestation and harassment of women dancers who were forced to strip during a function at a village in Chhaygaon.

National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma spoke to the Director General of Assam Police over phone on Monday and inquired about the incident.

�We arrested three more persons today. All of them were involved in the conspiracy. One of them, Sanjay Choudhury, contacted the dance troupe to perform in the function,� Kamrup Additional Superintendent of Police Sanjib Saikia said.

Saikia said that police is on the lookout for five or six more people. Two persons, identified as Subhahan Khan and Shahrukh Khan, were arrested earlier.

�Only after the video clippings are analysed and the statements of witnesses taken, we can say if more people are involved,� the ASP said.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the incident, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma spoke to the state police chief over phone. �Talked to DGP Assam just now. He said the FIR is been registered and two of the accused got arrested. Told him to do proper inquiry and arrest the organisers. NCW has taken suo motu (case) and is in touch with SSP also,� Sharma posted on Twitter.

Sources said the NCW is likely to seek a report from the Assam government the incident.

Several organisations took out a protest march at Chhaygaon on Monday.

According to the FIR filed at the Chhaygaon Police Station, the Rainbow Dance Troupe of Boko was contacted by the organisers to perform at Samaria under Boko on Friday. However, the dance troupe was forcibly taken to a different venue at Asolpara.

�There was an unruly crowd of around 700-800 people at the venue and apparently they were informed by the organisers that a troupe from Coochbehar will perform vulgar numbers at the show. The organisers tried to strip the girls of the group on the stage, insisting that they should perform nude. The girls were even molested, before they could flee the spot,� the FIR stated.

According to reports, the 42-member dance troupe was invited to perform at a cultural show by an organiser named Kuddus Ali. When the dance team reached the spot, it found that no stage was set up and they were instead guided to a closed space surrounded by metal sheets on all sides.

When the troupe began a traditional dance, the crowd turned rowdy and began pulling off the clothes of the performing girls. The crowd along with members of the organising committee also allegedly threatened the girls. As per the FIR filed by the dance troupe manager, the girls were molested by the crowd which also vandalised their cars.

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