NAHARLAGUN, May 5: In a swift operation, the Women Police Station (WPS) Itanagar successfully apprehended a 26-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl in Naharlagun. The accused, identified as Marge Riba alias Tai alias Barik Riba, was arrested from a wedding function in Changlang where he had been hiding after evading police detection.
According to the FIR registered on April 30,last, the incident occurred in the early hours of April 29 at the victim’s residence in Papu Hills near Oju Mission School, Naharlagun. The complainant alleged that Marge had entered their home between 1 AM and 2 AM, touched her 13-year-old daughter inappropriately, and attempted to seduce her 5-year-old younger daughter before fleeing when a housemaid entered the kitchen.
A case was registered under Sections 4(2)/8 of the POCSO Act (ITA WPS C/No. 27/25), and the investigation was assigned to Inspector Dopi Pakam.
Press statement further that, the Police immediately traced Marge’s phone location to Namsai, but he switched off his device upon learning about the police alert. Acting on intelligence that he might attend a wedding in Changlang, a WPS team—led by Inspector Pakam along with constables Ogo Pertin, Likha Tal, and driver Arun Singh—rushed to the venue.
Disguised as wedding guests, the team, with assistance from Diyun Police, successfully apprehended Riba from the function.
Upon verification, police discovered that Marge Riba has a prior criminal record. He was previously charge-sheeted in Yazali PS Case No. 18/14 under Sections 392/34 IPC and Section 25(1)B/27 of the Arms Act, with the trial ongoing before the CJM Court in Ziro.
The statements of the complainant and victims have been recorded under Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Authorities have also sought permission to record additional statements under Section 183 BNSS before the Special Judge (POCSO) in Yupia.
The accused is being brought back to Itanagar for further legal action, while the investigation continues,stated a prelease.
