Tura, April 21: Two minor girls were assaulted and raped on April 17 evening during the ongoing festivities – Chenga Benga Mela, at Gandhipara village near Garobadha in South West Garo Hills.

The annual mela draws devotees from different parts of the Garo Hills and neighbouring areas of Assam.

The victims, who were accompanied by male companions, were attacked by the miscreant, and one of the girls was brutally raped and assaulted.

The victims, in their statement, said that the accused were speaking in Bengali.

Police have registered a case under Ampati PS and investigation is on.

The South West Garo Hills Police administration has constituted an SIT to probe the matter.

On April 18, the influential Meghalaya Koch Student Union (MKSU) filed an FIR into the matter at Garodoba police outpost, under Ampati police station.

The FIR states that the two minor girls were abducted and raped by a group of 12–15 masked men belonging to a particular community.

Police said that the case has been registered at Ampati Women PS under the relevant section of the POCSO Act.

No arrest has been made so far.

Initially, a young man and the teenage girl were seen alone at the place of occurrence (PO), which was seen by this group of men, who approached them and assaulted and attacked them.

Later, another minor girl and boy came to the PO on their own. The boys were beaten and tied by shoelaces, and the girls were raped.