DIBRUGARH, April 17 � Three women, including an elderly woman was brutally beaten and physically abused in Hatigarh village under Tingkhong Police Station on Wednesday night reportedly by Jantu Phukan alias Kulaguti (28) and Dudu Phukan (25) of the same locality after fire broke out in a small hut owned by Jantu.
Suspecting the neighbours for causing the fire, the two boys pounced on three neighbouring women, stripping off one of the women of her sari and tearing away her blouse as they attacked them mercilessly, the villagers told this correspondent. The elderly woman was left bleeding from her left eye. Jonas Soy, the son of the elderly woman was also thrashed.
Both Jantu and Dudu reportedly went berserk as they vandalised the house of Jem Soy nearby and beat up a few others.
Taking serious note of the incident, the womenfolk of the locality along with the victims subsequently lodged a complaint with the police. They have called upon the concerned authorities to initiate action against the culprits and to ensure security of the women and children.
The All Adivasi Students� Association of Assam (AASAA) has also demanded arrest of the culprits and exemplary punishment to them.
The incident has the potential for communal flare ups as the situation in the area is reportedly tense and volatile. Police had not acted till the time of filing of this report.
It is pertinent to mention that the small hut which caught fire and was destroyed was built amidst bamboo groves by Jantu on a plot of land belonging to Jem Soy. The hut was reportedly constructed for setting up a ghumti (petty) shop. However, it is gathered that the two boys allegedly used the hut to conduct trade in illegally collected condensed oil.
