Guwahati molestation case: 13 accused get bail

, Sept 12: Thirteen persons, accused of molesting a girl outside a bar in Guwahati, have been granted bail by a court.

The Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate on Tuesday, Sept 11 granted bail to Nabajyoti Baruah, Jitumoni Deka, Nabajit Deka, Dipak Deb, Puspendra Das, Dhanraj Basfor, Rubul Ali, Hafizuddin, Sikandar Basfor, Diganta Basumatary, Debo Das, Rupkanta Kalita and Ghanashyam Malik.

While prime accused Amarjyoti Kalita's bail application was pending before the Gauhati High Court and is scheduled to come up on Thursday, journalist of a local television channel Gaurab Jyoti Neog, an accused in the case, was granted bail by the high court on Aug 13.

The CJM ordered that the trial of the case would proceed on a day-to-day basis from Sept 18.

The Special Investigation Team of the Assam Police, after completing investigations, had filed a charge sheet on Sept 4 before the CJM's court against 15 persons, under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 341 (wrongful restraint), 294 (obscene acts), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 354 (outraging of modesty of woman with criminal force) of IPC.

The court in pursuance of an order passed by the Gauhati High Court on Jul 30 had observed that since the present case fell in the special category involving social concern therefore, it should be put on the fast track and efforts would be made to dispose of it within one month.

The girl was allegedly assaulted and molested by a mob outside a bar on the busy GS Road on July 9 which was captured on camera leading to a national furore.

PTI