Agartala: People from Tripura residing in Delhi demanded strict punishment for the accused in heinous assault of a 19-year-old undergraduate Bio-Tech engineering student from the state.The young woman, who has been battling for her life at Safdarjung Hospital for the past five days, was allegedly subjected to a brutal attack in Gurugram. The community has urged chief minister Manik Saha to engage with his counterparts in Haryana and Delhi to address the safety and security of Tripura students.
Police have taken the accused, 23-year-old Shivam, into custody. Initial investigations revealed that the victim and the accused were in a romantic relationship and living together prior to the incident. According to the victim’s mother, her daughter was held against her will and tortured for three days at her rented accommodation. The incident came to light on Feb18 at around 10pm, when the victim made a desperate call to her mother after being admitted to a hospital.The victim told her mother that she was gravely injured and feared for her life, stating that Shivam had assaulted her repeatedly until she managed to seek help and reach the hospital. Her parents travelled to Delhi the next day and lodged a police complaint.The victim reported that the accused confined her to a room, subjected her to severe physical abuse, inflicted burn wounds, and attacked her with a sharp object. The extent of her injuries, resulting from repeated torture, has sparked widespread outrage.Reacting to the incident, former Union minister of state from Tripura, Pratima Bhowmik, visited the hospital in Delhi to meet the victim. Strongly condemning the crime, she asserted that the accused should face the harshest possible punishment without delay or prolonged legal procedures.Bhowmik further urged authorities not to allow any legal loopholes that could grant him release. “The victim told me that during the assault, Shivam admitted to committing similar acts against two other women. Such a person should not be allowed to remain free in society,” she said, even suggesting accountability for his parents.The horrifying case has ignited widespread anger among members of the Tripura community in Delhi and Haryana. Demonstrations have been organised to demand justice for the victim and stringent punishment for the perpetrator. Protesters have also called for stronger measures to ensure safety of women, particularly those who migrate from their home states for education or employment.
