Sikkim molest & rape arrests

Gangtok, Aug. 5: Sikkim police yesterday arrested two men, one for allegedly raping a hearing-impaired woman, and the other for alleged molestation of a lady with the same disability.

The first complaint came from Melli where a villager was accused of sexually assaulting a 30-year-old hearing impaired woman on August 2.

The victim’s mother had lodged a complaint with Melli police which led to the arrest of Bhim Bahadur Chettri, 59. He has been booked under Section 376 of the IPC that deals with rape and is non-bailable.

The second case was registered at Pakyong police station against 73-year-old Man Prasad Dahal who allegedly molested a 30-year-old hearing-impaired woman on July 24. The accused is a pandit who had gone to the victim’s place on the pretext of pasting a Nag Panchami poster.

Dahal has been booked under Section 354 of the IPC that deals with outraging the modesty of a woman. He has got bail. Mahendra Gurung, police inspector, Pakyong subdivision said “the culprit from Pakyong incident has been granted bail today but the chargesheet would be filed in couple of days. IPC 354, outraging the modesty of a woman is a bailable offence.”

Subadhra Rai, chairperson of the state women commission, said the panel could act suo motu only if the incident is reported in the media. “Section 354 of the IPC is too weak. The accused can walk free.”