Students and parents protest against eve-teasing in Assam's Katakhal

Silchar: Tension gripped Katakhal in Assam’s Hailakandi district on Thursday after agitated students of two schools, along with their parents, gheraoed the Katakhal police outpost, demanding strict action against a group of youths accused of routinely harassing girl students.According to locals, the miscreants frequently pass lewd remarks and make indecent proposals to the students of Katakhal Jankicharan High School and AC Balika Higher Secondary School while they return home from classes. The persistent harassment has left many girls distressed and fearful, finally prompting them to take their grievances directly to the police.On Thursday, scores of students, accompanied by guardians, marched to the police outpost and staged a protest, accusing police of inaction despite repeated complaints.

They demanded immediate registration of cases and arrests of the accused youths. Parents also lodged a fresh FIR against the accused eve-teasers.A Class IX student has alleged that a group of boys regularly harass them on their way to and from school.

According to her, the miscreants pull at their dupattas, tug their hair, and pass lewd remarks and indecent proposals. The victims said they have been left traumatised by the constant harassment.

She further claimed that when they informed their families, the boys threatened them with even harsher treatment if they dared to complain.A boatman, who ferries students across the river, also accompanied the girls to the police station. He testified that he, too, has witnessed the repeated harassment of the students by these youths. The elderly boatman added that whenever he tried to intervene, the boys threatened him as well.Police assured the protesters of prompt action to identify and apprehend the culprits. Security in the area has also been tightened.