Two tribal women in Silchar, Assam were abused, dragged and assaulted by a group of youths for their alleged attempt to “sell dog meat” at a street market in the southern Assam town. The act was captured on video and was uploaded on Facebook, leading to outrage on the social media.
The social media users were divided on selling of dog meat, but most of the users were seen demanding action against the group of “educated” youths as “they broke law by manhandling the women”.
News website Barak Bulletin reported that on December 5, an FIR was registered at the Silchar Sadar police station by president of Barak Valley Hmar Students’ Association, Lalmalsawm Thiek. The report said that Thiek informed the police that the incident that took place on November 24 when some youths, including girls, approached a couple of tribal women vendors at a roadside market at Jail Road in Silchar and abused, threatened and assaulted them after suspecting that a stray dog was stolen and the women were trying to slaughter it to sell the meat.
The incident came to the fore after the video went viral on the social media.
The New Indian Express quoted Cachar deputy commissioner S Lakshmanan saying that a case had been registered in connection with the incident and the investigation was on.
“We are investigating the matter and lawful action shall be taken against the accused persons,” superintendent of police Rakesh Roushan told the newspaper.
The incident happened when noticing a ‘doubtful’ bag with the victims, the group of youths asked her to open it but she refused to do so. Suspecting the women vendors of stealing a stray dog, the youths assaulted the women. A video of the incident, filmed by one of the youths, showed the bag containing a dog with its mouth and legs tied with a rope.
An online petition was also started demanding strict action against the youths.
