12 arrested in 'moral policing' case in Assam

At least 12 people were arrested in a suspected moral policing case, in which a woman was assaulted for going out with a male friend in Goalpara district, a senior police officer said today.

A 22-year-old woman, who is about to get married soon, was beaten up by local people after she was spotted with her friend at Aolguri area which comes under the jurisdiction of Krishnai police station, he said.

Police have registered an FIR in the case and nabbed six people yesterday and six more today, Goalpara SP Amitava Sinha said.

"This is a case of moral policing. What we have come to know is that the woman's marriage has been fixed. She was going somewhere with her male friend yesterday, when some youths attacked them. The youths mainly targeted the woman," Sinha told PTI.

The attackers sought an explanation from the woman for going out with another man, he said, adding that the victim and her assaulters belong to the Garo community.

A video of the assault has gone viral on the social media.

"We are conducting further investigations to ascertain the involvement of more persons in the case," Sinha added.