Assam: 17-year-old girl sexually assaulted, threatened with acid attack; accused absconding

Guwahati: A teenage girl from Choto Dudhpatil village in Assam has allegedly fallen victim to sexual assault, blackmail and online abuse after a 19-year-old man threatened her with an acid attack, raped her and later circulated explicit content on social media, police said.

The accused, identified as Rahul Biswas alias Rohit, allegedly coerced the 17-year-old student into a physical relationship by threatening to disfigure her with acid. During the assaults, he secretly recorded videos and photographs without her consent, investigators said.

Police said Biswas later used the recordings to blackmail the minor. When his demands were not met, he allegedly uploaded nude images and videos of the girl on multiple social media platforms, causing severe mental trauma.

Sources close to the family said the teenager attempted suicide following the assault and subsequent online harassment. She has stopped attending school and is currently undergoing medical and psychological treatment, they added.

Following a complaint by the victim’s family, Malugram police station in Assam’s Cachar district registered a case and booked the accused under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rape, sexual harassment, criminal intimidation and extortion. Police also invoked sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, including charges related to aggravated penetrative sexual assault and use of a child for pornographic content.

Police said the accused fled to Bengaluru after the incident. Cachar Police have launched a manhunt and are coordinating with external agencies to track his digital footprint and arrest him.

Residents of Choto Dudhpatil and local rights groups have demanded immediate removal of the explicit content from online platforms and swift action to bring the accused back to Assam for trial.