Sign in

Assam tribal king arrested for raping mother of four

Harsing Ronghang, the titular king of Assam’s Karbi people, was arrested on Tuesday morning based on a FIR lodged by the woman

Updated on: May 23, 2017, 20:04:48 IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

A 53-year-old tribal king was arrested in Assam on charges of raping a 33-year-old mother of four children.

Harsing Ronghang has been charged with rape and house trespass. (HT photo)
Harsing Ronghang has been charged with rape and house trespass. (HT photo)

Harsing Ronghang, the titular king of the Karbi people, one of the predominant tribes in Assam, was arrested on Tuesday morning based on a FIR lodged by the woman. Ronghang has been charged with rape and house trespass.

“He was summoned to the police station and arrested. Report of the medical examination of the victim is awaited,” Kamal Bora, in-charge of Hamren police station in West Karbi Anglong district in central Assam told HT.

According to the FIR, the accused went to the woman’s house last Wednesday and allegedly raped her at night.

“He left early the next morning threatening the woman not to disclose the incident. But, after couple of days she told her neighbours and the news spread in the area,” Bora said.

A meeting of the local elders and residents was called on Monday where the accused reportedly admitted to his crime. Subsequently, the woman lodged an FIR in Hamren police station.

The administrative affairs in Karbi Anglong region, where the Karbi people mainly reside, fall under the jurisdiction of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). But the tribal king, who manages his affairs from Ronghang Rongbong, 16 km from Hamren, the district head quarters, enjoys lot of influence on the socio-cultural life of the Karbis.

  • Utpal Parashar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Utpal Parashar

    A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More