Assam Women's Commission take suo motu cognisance

"We will decide on our future course of action soon based on the report of the action taken by the police in the case," Barooah said.

Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said "the incident is indeed very painful and is against our culture and tradition. It is something which cannot be tackled through administrative action alone. All of us have a role to play to check this menace."

The Congress High Command has also taken a serious view of the matter and a team of the Congress Mahila Morcha from New Delhi is scheduled to visit the city soon to review the matter, party sources said here.

Akashitora, convenor of NGO Prithivi, criticising the local electronic media, said "how could mediapersons continue to film the incident for nearly an hour and not come to the rescue of the girl?"

On alleged silence of womens' activists on the issue, Akashitora said "we have been protesting since day one but it is really surprising that no MP or MLA has raised the issue at an appropriate forum so far."

She said a protest rally would be organised on July 15.

Convenor of NGO Nirjatito Nari Aikya Mancha Sumitra Hazarika said "we are shocked at the incident. We demand immmediate arrest of all the culprits and appeal to people from all sections of society not only in Guwahati but in the rest of the state to join us to protest this shameful incident."