National Award-winning Meghalaya filmmaker Dominic Sangma was allegedly assaulted by two men near Rakap village along the Jollang-Rakap road in Itanagar on Wednesday evening after intervening to protect Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) students from harassment.
Sangma, who heads the Department of Screenwriting at FTII’s permanent campus in Jote, was returning from an evening walk around 6:30 pm when the confrontation occurred. According to a social media statement by his wife, Karry Padu, Sangma stepped in upon seeing two men armed with bamboo sticks attacking students.
The assailants, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, turned on Sangma, while also allegedly assaulting four students and an institute security guard, and subjecting them to wrongful restraint.
The Balijan police station has registered a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the incident under Sections 115(2), 117(2), 126, and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police identified the two accused named in the complaint as Techi Nanu and Techi Sanjay, both residents of Rakap village, and confirmed that an active investigation is underway.
Sangma is an acclaimed director in independent Indian cinema whose Garo-language feature Rapture previously secured the Best Garo Film honor at the 66th National Film Awards.
