3 women allege rape by armymen, 11 injured during protests

Eleven people, including nine security personnel, were today injured when a protest against alleged rape of three women by armymen in Assam's Karbi Anglong area turned violent with the protestors pelting stones at police prompting them to open fire.

Karbi Anglong Superintendent of Police M J Mahanta said a mob of about 3,000 people gheraoed Dokmoka police station during the day demanding immediate arrest of armymen allegedly behind the rape of a woman and two young girls in the district and started pelting stones at security personnel posted there.

The mob, which also alleged inaction by the police, injured five policemen and four army personnel, Mahanta told PTI.

The security personnel resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob, but when they refused to leave the area police opened fire in which two protestors were injured, he said.

A complaint had been lodged at the police station on April 8 alleging that some personnel of 8 Jat Regiment during search operations had raped the three on April 6 at Parkopahar area.
Mahanta said the case was under investigation and the army personnel accused of the alleged rape have denied their involvement to the police.

Several social and political organisations had yesterday submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh through the Deputy Commissioner demanding immediate arrest of the army personnel allegedly involved in the incident within 24 hours and withdrawal of army from the area.

Senior police and civil officials have rushed to the spot as the situation in the area remained tense but under control, official sources said.

Meanwhile, several organisations of the district have jointly called a 24-hour Karbi Anglong bandh tomorrow to protest against the incident.