A fresh case, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, has been registered against self-proclaimed anti-drug activist Gumin Mize after a minor girl alleged that he attempted to sexually assault her, police said on Saturday. According to the police, a written complaint was received at the women police station (WPS), Itanagar, on 20 June, alleging molestation of a minor girl by Mize. Based on the complaint, the Itanagar women police station registered a case under Sections 74, 75(2), 79, 127 and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Sections 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act, and launched an investigation.
The police said that, as per the complaint and the preliminary investigation, Mize, along with two associates linked to a self-proclaimed anti-drug group, allegedly took the victim with them, following which the accused allegedly attempted to force himself upon her. The victim, however, managed to escape from the situation and returned home. The survivor’s statement has been recorded before both the police and the jurisdictional magistrate under the relevant legal provisions.
According to the police, the statement made before the court corroborates the allegations contained in the complaint. The survivor’s statement has already been recorded before the police, as well as the court. After obtaining a production warrant to take the alleged accused into custody, the police will continue the investigation in the newly registered POCSO case.
This latest case comes days after Mize was arrested in connection with another case registered at the women police station in Pasighat. In that case, an FIR was lodged on 14 June under Sections 64 (1) (rape), 75 (2) (sexual harassment), 126 (2) (wrongful confinement) and 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 27 of the Arms Act. Mize was arrested on 18 June and was subsequently remanded to 14 days in judicial custody.
His bail application was rejected by the competent court on 25 June. Police said they would seek a production warrant to formally take him into custody in connection with the newly registered POCSO case as the investigation progresses.
