IIT students arrested for molestation

TT, Guwahati, Feb. 8: Two students of IIT Guwahati were arrested today for allegedly molesting three students of Gauhati University.

The accused - Kunal Kumbhakar and Ajay Dey - both 19, are BTech second-year students. They were arrested after a marathon interrogation in connection with case number 14/2017 registered under Sections 352 (assault or use of criminal force), 354 (outraging modesty of woman) and 34 (common intention) IPC at North Guwahati police station after one of the victims lodged an FIR last evening.

Kunal, who hails from Rajasthan, is pursuing electrical engineering while Ajay, who is from Madhya Pradesh, is a civil engineering student.

The police also recorded the victim's statement before a magistrate under Section 164 CrPC.

According to police, the victim said she and two of her hostel mates were drugged and molested on the IIT campus by the accused, whom they had befriended during Alcheringa, the annual cultural festival of IIT Guwahati, on Friday night.

She said she felt dizzy before falling unconscious after consuming soft drinks offered by the accused. "I tried to resist when they molested me but I lost consciousness," the source quoted her saying.

In the wee hours of Saturday, the girls were sent to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital after they were found in a semi-conscious state on the campus. The girls have undergone medical tests and the police are awaiting the reports.

Kamrup superintendent of police Partha Sarathi Mahanta said the duo were remanded in judicial custody after they were produced before the court of the chief judicial magistrate, Kamrup, at Amingaon on the outskirts here.

The source said the police are still ascertaining why the girls decided to stay overnight on the IIT campus after the cultural programme ended around 10.30pm. "After the programme ended, they could have easily left for their hostel, which is around 10km from IIT. Cabs are available till late night," the source said.

Assistant registrar (public relations), Labanu K. Konwar, said this is the first case of molestation involving IIT Guwahati students. "Once the truth comes out, the institute will act on it and take appropriate action as per the rules," he said.