Strict punishment for minor molestation demanded

Our Correspondent

Itanagar, June 24: The Arunachal Pradesh Women's Welfare Society (APWWS) and the Longding District Students' Union (LDSU) have sought stringent punishment for the soldier allegedly involved in the molestation of a minor at Bonia village on June 20 under Pongchau circle of Longding district.

Denouncing the alleged molestation of the minor, the APWWS said that "strict punishment must be given to the soldier at the earliest". The organisation said that crimes are unacceptable in a civilized society as it expressed its concern on repeated crimes against children and women in the state.

The LDSU also condemned the incident in its strongest term, and demanded that the higher authorities of the Indian Army initiate appropriate action as per law without any further delay or sack him from the service.

A soldier of 19th Sikh Regiment, Gurlal Singh currently posted at Pongchau circle, has been arrested by the Londging unit police on Thursday for molesting the 10-year-old girl. According to the FIR lodged by the minor's mother, the incident occurred at around 10 am on Thursday when the accused entered one house to use the toilet.

There was no one in the house except a 10-year-old girl whose mother had gone to the neighbour's house for a while.

The police later arrested the accused from the spot.

A criminal case has been registered under POCSO Act 2012.The soldier has been produced before the Longding Judicial Magistrate First Class, who has issued order to transfer the case to the court of the District Session Judge at Tezu in Lohit district.