GANGTOK: An outrage and a shock wave have surrounded Gyalshing after the arrest of some individuals, both adults and juveniles, connected with the repeated sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl.
The incident came to light after teachers at a local government school brought it to the notice of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), resulting in shocking disclosures during counseling sessions with the victim.
Sources of the CWC indicate that the young girl, with courage, narrated a series of traumatic events. In her first account, she implicated her neighbor, Pema Uden Bhutia, who is said to have invited the victim to her house for purported assistance in doing chores around the house.
It is alleged that Bhutia forced the girl into sexual acts with her husband, Kamal Gurung.
The victim also revealed a sinister web of exploitation in her testimony, claiming that Bhutia not only observed the abuse but also enabled further assaults by getting other men, Santosh Kumar Gupta and Naresh Sahni, to rape her for money.
She also identified four juveniles who allegedly abused her during 2024 and 2025.
In response to the seriousness of the charges, Gyalshing Police filed a First Information Report (FIR No. 05/2025) dated 10 April, charging the accused under a number of sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Investigations are still in progress, and the names of the juveniles have not yet been released. Local women's rights organizations and NGOs are pushing for justice and support for the survivor, as the authorities assure an extensive investigation to bring to justice all involved parties.
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