At last, cops net Gopith Das

Arrested at Hajo, AIUDF legislator was absconding for a month after housemaid’s family filed complaint of molestation

Our Correspondent

Mirza, Oct 4: AIUDF legislator from Boko Gopith Das, who was absconding since last month, has been arrested on charges of molesting a minor domestic help.

While on way to Hajo from Amingaon, Das was arrested by a police team led by Kamrup superintendent of police Indrani Barua. Police say Das was shifting his location when he was bbed, based on a specific tip-off.

Two other occupants who were in the rented vehicle with the legislator, have also been detained.

Police say the legislator had given the slip to police on two occasions earlier.

The victim's family had filed a police complaint against Das a month back.

The girl's father told the police that she was confined to the legislator's house since the incident, and it was only after she escaped from there that the family came to know about the incident and filed the complaint in Boko police station. Police registered a case against Gopith Das on charges of wrongful confinement under relevant sections of the Indian Pel Code and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

"We received information that Das will be moving somewhere today and we intercepted him. He was arrested from Hajo area near Guwahati today (Sunday)," said Kamrup Superintendent of Police Indrani Baruah.

Das was being interrogated at the Palasbari police station and he would be presented in court on Monday. He has refuted the charges, claiming it was an attempt to malign his political career ahead of next year's assembly elections. Meanwhile, the AIUDF has placed Das under suspension till investigation into the case and trial is complete.