Eight persons arrested in molestation case

Guwahati: Assam Police arrested today another accused in the molestation of a girl outside a pub here taking the number of those apprehended in the case to eight. "Today we arrested Rupkanta Kalita from Nalbari and search operations are on in Guwahati and nearby areas, including Meghalaya where the other three other main accused may have taken refuge," a senior official said.

Another officer said the prime accused Amarjyoti Kalita has fled to Odisha and is hiding in Puri. "We are in touch with our Odisha counterpart to track down the main culprit and bring him back to Assam," he said. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the key accused was traced to Bhubaneswar.

"Tracking of his (Amarjyoti Kalita) mobile phone has pointed to his presence in Bhubaneswar. Assam Police is in touch with its Odisha counterparts and we hope to trace him soon," he told reporters outside the Assembly. Police have announced Rs one lakh cash award for information on the whereabouts of Kalita. Gogoi attacked the news channel that aired the footage of the molestation saying its role was `unethical`.

It was the moral duty of the cameraman who filmed the incident to inform the police, he said, adding he was ready to meet the girl. The issue, which has caused a public outcry, rocked the state assembly today resulting in separate walkouts by the Opposition All India United Democratic Front, AGP and BJP after Speaker Pranab Gogoi disallowed an adjournment motion to discuss the issue.