Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Debabrata Saikia has requested the Assam State Commission for Women to initiate an investigation into the alleged offences committed against women leaders of the party during a “Parivartan Yatra” ahead of the Assembly elections. In a letter to the chairperson of Assam State Commission for Women on Sunday, the Congress leader alleged that persons associated with the ruling BJP “reportedly heckled our women leaders and made obscene and derogatory remarks in public, thereby outraging their dignity and modesty” while the convoy was proceeding from Tezpur to Dhekiajuli along National Highway-15 and was obstructed and attacked at Bihaguri (Barchalla CDC).
“When one of the leaders stepped forward in an attempt to protect the convoy, she was assaulted and sustained injuries. As per available reports, the injured include Rupa Kalita Das, senior spokesperson of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee Trishna Bora Kakati, general secretary of the Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress; and Sampurna Saikia, president of the Sonitpur District Mahila Congress,” Saikia stated.
The bus, in front of where the women were assaulted, was carrying senior leaders of the Indian National Congress.
Terming the incident as grave, Saikia sought a probe under the Assam State Commission for Women Act, 1994. “The annexures accompanying this complaint also contain digital evidence as defined under Section 2(8) (Document) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The material clearly reflects conduct amounting to a violation of the dignity and rights of women and warrants investigation under Section 10(3) of the Assam State Commission for Women Act, 1994,” Saikia stated.
“The actions of the accused persons prima facie attract offences punishable under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, namely criminal conspiracy (Section 61), insult to the modesty of a woman (Section 79), voluntarily causing hurt (Section 115(1)), acts endangering life or personal safety (Section 125), wrongful restraint (Section 126), use of criminal force (Section 129), unlawful assembly (Section 189(1)(e)), and public nuisance (Section 270),” he claimed. “Further, the incident amounts to a violation of Articles 14 (Right to Equality) and 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination of any Citizens on grounds of Sex) of the Constitution of India, which guarantee equality before law and protection against discrimination,” Saikia stated.
