SHILLONG, June 29: A 23-year-old man accused of assaulting his estranged wife was arrested on Monday after a video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting the West Khasi Hills police to register a suo motu case and launch an investigation.
West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Herbert Kharkongor, said the incident occurred on the evening of June 28 along National Highway-44E at the Nongstoin Bypass Road, but was not reported to any police station in the district.
Following the circulation of the video online, police registered the case at the Nongstoin Police Station under relevant provisions of the BNS and initiated an investigation.
During the probe, police identified the accused as Fastdingson Wanniang of Mawkadiang village, the ex-husband of the 22-year-old victim. According to the SP, the couple had been living separately for more than 18 months.
“During the course of investigation, and based on source information, the accused involved in committing the act was identified. Other persons seen in the video were examined and found to be key witnesses present at the place of occurrence,” Kharkongor said.
Police said the victim had gone out with her friends when the accused allegedly chased and assaulted her.
The accused was apprehended on Monday morning by Nongstoin Police with the assistance of the Village Defence Primary Committee Nongstoin Area and the Village Defence Party members of Mawkadiang village.
He was subsequently arrested and produced before the court.
Kharkongor said all necessary assistance is being provided to the victim and that she has been referred to the One Stop Centre in Nongstoin for counselling and other support services.
The police advised members of the public against circulating the viral video, warning that sharing such content could attract legal action under the BNS and the Information Technology Act.
The SP stressed that the identity of victims of assault must be protected and cautioned that sharing or forwarding the video could amount to re-victimisation and may hamper the ongoing investigation.
The police also appealed to anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Police Control Room or dial 112, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.
“Strict action will be taken against the offender as per the law. The public is requested to cooperate with the investigation and refrain from sharing sensitive content on social media,” Kharkongor said.
