DIBRUGARH, June 9 - Tea garden workers of Madarkhat Tea Estate yesterday stormed the Dikom police outpost in protest against the failure of the police to arrest Ranjit Dutta, an employee of the garden for reportedly outraging the modesty of a woman.
Several hundreds of workers supported by Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha and Assam Tea Tribes Students� Association surrounded the police post, demanding immediate arrest of the accused. All forms of work in the tea estate including the factory remained closed today in view of the protest.
Ranjit Dutta, an employee in the factory of the tea estate has been accused of outraging the modesty of a woman worker in the garden. The victim had lodged a complaint with the police that Dutta outraged her modesty after calling her to the factory office to prepare tea. Similar complaints were also simultaneously lodged by the local women group and ATTSA. Following the complaint a case (No. 71/17 u/s 354 A) has been registered with the police. However police interrogating the case told The Assam Tribune that the accused had indulged in friendly prank and had no intention to outrage her modesty.
Police had reportedly detained Ranjit Dutta on June 6 for questioning but later let him off. This literally ignited the workers who today stormed the police outpost, seeking immediate arrest of the accused. The protestors shouted slogans and sought to know why police let off the accused. The protesting workers dispersed only after the Circle Officer Deepak Bhuyan and the police assured them to arrest the accused. However, couple of hours after the protest had ended; Ranjit Dutta surrendered before the police in Lahoal Police Station.
