Agartala, Oct 14 (IANS): Tripura Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya has asked police and the state women's commission to take stern action against those who molested a woman publicly here earlier this month.
"I have asked the Tripura Women Commission (TWC) chairperson and senior police officials to take firm action against the attackers who assaulted and molested a woman in full glare on October 6," Acharya told reporters Tuesday at Raj Bhavan.
Expressing his deep concern and anguish, he said: "I have met TWC Chairperson Purnima Roy and Inspector General of Police (law and order) Anurag Dhankar Monday and directed them to protect women and earn people's trust by taking prompt action against the people involved in crimes against women."
The woman, 37-year-old Soma Majumder also met the governor Monday and explained to him how she was assaulted and molested by a group of people, including women.
On October 5, some youths were consuming alcohol in the public to which her husband protested. But these youths also forced him to drink alcohol.
The next day she was called to a local club and beaten and molested in full public glare by 18 people, including some women. No one from the crowd came forward to her rescue.
The issue came to light when a local television channel aired the incident, triggering a major political storm against the Left Front government. People cutting across party lines strongly protested the incident.
"This incident was barbaric and an act like that of medieval period," TWC chief Roy told reporters after visiting the residence of the victim.
She said that a fact-finding team of the commission has visited the victim's house and talked to the family members.
Deputy Superintendent of police (Central) Rajendra Datta said the victim has filed a complaint against the 18 people.
"The accused have obtained anticipatory bail from a local court here," Datta told IANS, adding that the additional chief judicial magistrate here has asked the accused to be present in the court Oct 20 when their bail matter would be assessed.
The opposition parties have claimed that crimes against women are increasing rapidly in Tripura. Senior leaders of political parties, including the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, met top police officials here, demanding stern action against the attackers.