Molestation case: Guwahati SSP transferred

The Assam government on Monday shunted out Guwahati city Senior Superintendent of Police Apurba Jibon Baruah in the wake of severe criticism faced by the police for not acting promptly to prevent a girl being molested on G S Road on July 9.

Earlier, the administration had suspended another police official Subhan Chandra Barua who was posted in Dispur police station on charges of dereliction of duty. The official allegedly did not act on a few phone calls informing him about what was unfolding at G S Road that night.

An official in Assam police headquarters confirmed that the city SSP had been transferred. He has been replaced by Arabinda Kalita, the SP of Dibrugarh city, with immediate effect.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted that there were lapses on the part of the city police in connection with the barbaric assault on the girl.

The Assam police has already set up a special investigation team (SIT) led by SP Ranjan Bhuyan to probe the heinous crime.

The three-member probe team of National Commission for Women (NCW) that visited the state on Saturday to probe into the incident, also pointed out that there was need for intensifying police patrolling at night and asked the state DGP to do the needful.