Guwahati, Dec 31: Police in Cachar have apprehended a 19-year-old suspect near Silchar airport following a multi-state manhunt that ended his two-week evasion in Goa.
The arrest, which took place Tuesday morning, occurred just two days after authorities detained the suspect’s father, a local businessman and religious preacher, for allegedly facilitating his son’s escape and intimidating the victim’s family into silence.
Partha Pratim Das, the Senior Superintendent of Police for Cachar, noted that the father’s active involvement had significantly obstructed the initial stages of the investigation.
This high-profile case has sparked widespread public indignation across the district, particularly as it was revealed that the father and four other relatives have previously faced legal proceedings before a Foreigners Tribunal regarding suspected illegal migration.
The investigation began on December 15 when a 16-year-old schoolgirl filed a complaint at the Malugram police station, detailing a harrowing months-long ordeal that allegedly started when the suspect was 18.
According to her statement, the accused entered her home while she was alone and took unauthorized photographs. He then reportedly used those images, coupled with threats of an acid attack and violence against her family, to coerce her into a sexual relationship.
The harassment took a technologically sophisticated turn when the suspect allegedly utilized artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos and established fraudulent social media profiles in the girl’s name to circulate objectionable content. This systematic campaign of digital and physical intimidation reportedly led the victim to attempt self-harm and caused her to stop attending school out of fear.
Law enforcement officials have charged the teenager under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including rape, extortion, voyeurism, criminal intimidation, and acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
Furthermore, he faces charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. As the legal proceedings move forward, the victim’s mother has called for the maximum possible punishment, citing the severe impact the trauma has had on her daughter’s mental health.
Investigators are currently conducting a forensic analysis of electronic devices and digital evidence seized during the operation to solidify the case before it reaches trial.
