GUWAHATI, March 22 - Femina Miss India World (2016) Priyadarshini Chatterjee today submitted a memorandum to Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court Ajit Singh against �police inaction� in a sexual abuse case where a minor girl was allegedly sexually molested by a Professor of the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara.
In the memorandum, Priyadarshini, who hails from Assam and is also associated with the Universal Team for Social Action and Help (UTSAH), an organisation working for child rights, gave details of the sequence of events of the case in question and demanded intervention from the top offices of the State.
Priyadarshini, who is the ambassador of UTSAH�s anti-child abuse programme, in her memorandum said, �When all doors are closed, I found no other option but to write to you�.�
She also gave details of the case in question where the accused had already been allowed pre-arrest anticipatory bail.
She also stated that cases of child sexual abuse are on the rise in Assam, which is a matter of serious concern.
�Despite several requests, the police has failed to arrest the accused (now granted anticipatory bail). Non-arrest of perpetrators of child sexual abuse sets a poor precedent and encourages crimes against children in the State. Also, the trend of easy bail by courts to such accused can turn society into a haven of abusers. I seek your help in changing the trend of allowing bail with regard to cases under the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act, 2012,� the memorandum signed by Priyadarshini stated.
Miguel Das Queah of UTSAH also opined, �It is indeed very sad that the perpetrators of such crimes are moving freely. The intervention of the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court has been sought so that the victims do not lose hope on the system.�
The case relates to a 13-year-old girl, who was allegedly tortured and abused sexually by the owner of the house for quite some time. The minor girl fled the house and was subsequently rescued by a team of Child Line. A case was also lodged by UTSAH with the Dispur Police Station against the professor and his wife.
