Agartala, March 28: An employee of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has been arrested for allegedly assaulting an autistic child, an incident that sparked widespread outrage and drew criticism from rights groups over the handling of the case.
The accused, identified as Dweep Gopal Das, a fireman with ONGC, was taken into custody on Saturday following mounting public pressure. The incident reportedly occurred a few days ago and quickly gained attention after details emerged about the severity of the assault.
According to sources, the minor child had inadvertently caused minor damage to the paint of a car driven by the accused. Enraged by the incident, Das allegedly assaulted the child in full public view. Eyewitness accounts suggest that he physically attacked and even attempted to strangle the child, resulting in serious injuries.
Following the incident, a complaint was lodged at Amtali Police Station. However, questions were raised over the initial response of the police, with allegations that prompt action was not taken despite the seriousness of the offence. The delay triggered criticism from various rights organisations and concerned citizens, who demanded immediate action and justice for the victim.
As public outrage grew and influential voices began highlighting the issue, the police moved to arrest the accused. The development has brought some relief to the victim’s family and those advocating for accountability in the case.
Officer-in-Charge of Amtali Police Station, Paritosh Das, confirmed the arrest and said, “We received a specific complaint against Dweep Gopal Das for assaulting an autistic child. Based on the complaint, he has been arrested. The accused is employed as a fireman with ONGC.”
The incident has once again highlighted concerns regarding the safety of children, particularly those with special needs, and the importance of swift law enforcement action in such sensitive cases.
Further investigation is currently underway, and authorities have assured that appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with the law.
