Sikkim: Teenager sexually assaulted in Jorethang; accused arrested

A 15-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by 29-year-old Ashish Abhishek Chettri at a hotel in Jorethang during the night of December 20-21, 2024. The accused has been arrested following the victim's report and the case is under investigation.

According to the statement provided by the victim, she arrived in Jorethang Bazaar from Sombaria at around 11:00 AM on December 20. After spending some time at the Jorethang playground, she and her sister visited a restaurant where they encountered Chettri. Following the meal, the victim’s sister left to attend to personal matters leaving the victim alone with Chettri.

The two began chatting on WhatsApp and later in the evening, around 9:30 PM, Chettri proposed they meet again. They met outside a local establishment in Jorethang, where Chettri suggested traveling to Namchi claiming his grandmother was hospitalized and needed food. The victim agreed to accompany him on his scooter.

At approximately 11:30 PM, Chettri and the victim returned to Jorethang, where the accused booked a room at a local hotel. It was during this stay that the victim was allegedly sexually assaulted by Chettri.

The next morning, at around 7:00-7:30 AM, the accused left the hotel room and the victim immediately reported the incident. The police arrested Chettri after observing all necessary legal formalities. He was later charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

The victim underwent a medical examination at CHC Jorethang and has been placed in a shelter home in Namchi.