Shillong: A 24-year-old man suspected of involvement in two disturbing incidents of sexual assault targeting schoolgirls in Shillong has been arrested in Assam, according to Meghalaya police officials.
The arrest comes days after a video surfaced online on May 24, showing a masked individual allegedly lifting a schoolgirl’s uniform and taking photos with a mobile phone.
The footage, which quickly went viral, prompted immediate action by law enforcement.
Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, Vivek Syiem, confirmed that both incidents had been treated as Special Report cases due to their gravity.
Following the investigation, the suspect was identified as Himan Gogoi, a resident of Jorhat, Assam.
Acting on this lead, a team led by Woman Police Sub-Inspector Lavinia Kongwang traveled to Assam on May 28. With support from Lahdoigarh Outpost under Teok Police Station, they located Gogoi hiding at a relative’s home in Bamkukurachua village.
Authorities seized the phone allegedly used during the assaults, along with other evidence linking him to the crimes.
Gogoi is also wanted in a separate case registered at Teok Police Station (Case No. 43(03)2025) under Sections 329(3) and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
He is expected to be produced before the District Court in Jorhat, after which Shillong police will seek transit remand to bring him to Meghalaya for further investigation.
The first incident was traced to a narrow lane near the YWCA in Umsohsun and occurred early in the morning on May 23 around 6:35 am.
A dedicated investigation team, formed under the leadership of Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Ivan B. Diengdoh on May 26, was tasked with tracking the suspect.
Following the identification of the victim, a case was registered at Lumdiengjri Police Station (FIR No. 55(05)2025).
Charges under Sections 76 and 79 of the BNS, along with Sections 11 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, were filed.
Further investigation uncovered a second, similar assault that had taken place on May 19 between 7:15 am and 7:30 am near Dreamland in Police Bazar.
In this instance, another schoolgirl was reportedly harassed. An FIR (Case No. 140(05)2025) was lodged at Sadar Police Station, and the accused was charged under Sections 7 and 8 of the POCSO Act.
