The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl in Dimapur has arrested a third accused in connection with the case, police sources said on Sunday. According to sources, the accused, an elderly man, was taken into custody on June 7. Further investigation is currently underway, and officials said more details regarding the accused and the nature of his alleged involvement in the case would be disclosed at a later stage. With the latest arrest, the number of people taken into custody in the case has risen to three. Earlier, police had arrested the prime accused, identified as Watimeren Jamir alias O. Wati, along with a second accused, Tsuktimongba Ao. Both were subsequently remanded to police custody for further interrogation as part of the ongoing investigation.
The case is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team constituted by the police and headed by a senior officer. The SIT has been tasked with conducting a thorough probe and ensuring that all aspects of the case are examined in accordance with the law. Meanwhile, police have once again appealed to the public and media organisations to respect the privacy and dignity of the minor victim. They urged people not to share any information that could directly or indirectly reveal the identity of the child, including the victim’s name, age, address, school, photographs or any other identifying details.
Police reminded the public that revealing the identity of a minor victim is a punishable offence under Section 72 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 23 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act. Assuring that the investigation is progressing according to due legal procedure, police said every effort is being made to complete the probe and file the chargesheet at the earliest.
