NONGSTOIN: Following the rapid circulation of a viral video on social media, the West Khasi Hills District Police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly assaulting his ex-wife on the National Highway 44E Nongstoin Bypass road.
West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Herbert Pyniaid Kharkongor, issued an official statement confirming the development and issued a stern warning to the public against further sharing the sensitive footage.
The incident came to light on the night of June 28, 2026, when a video depicting a 22-year-old female being assaulted by a male individual began circulating widely across various social media platforms. Although the assault occurred on the afternoon of June 28, it initially went unreported, and no First Information Report was filed at any local police station.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the police took immediate proactive measures, registering a Suo-Motu case at the Nongstoin Police Station. The case, registered as Nongstoin P.S. Case No. 43(6)2026, invokes sections 74, 135, and 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
During the subsequent investigation, police identified the assailant as Fasdingson Wanniang, a resident of Mawkadiang Village in the West Khasi Hills District. Investigators revealed that Wanniang is the ex-husband of the victim, and the couple has been living separately for more than a year and a half. Other individuals spotted in the video clip were rounded up and interrogated, with police confirming they were key eyewitnesses present at the scene.
According to the investigation, the victim had gone out with her friends when they encountered Wanniang, who then reportedly chased and assaulted her.
A coordinated operation by the officers of Nongstoin Police Station, assisted by the Village Defence Party Crime Network Association of Nongstoin and the Village Defence Party of Mawkadiang Village, led to the apprehension of the accused on the morning of June 29. He was subsequently arrested and forwarded before the Court. Meanwhile, the police are providing comprehensive assistance to the victim, who has been forwarded to the One Stop Centre in Nongstoin for necessary counselling and support.
The Superintendent of Police emphasized that circulating such content constitutes a serious offense under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Sharing, forwarding, or posting the video can trigger legal action against individuals, while digital platforms and intermediaries are legally obligated to remove such unlawful material immediately.
Furthermore, the authorities stressed the absolute necessity of protecting the victim’s identity, noting that revealing it either directly or indirectly is punishable by law. The public has been urged not to spread unverified content, as doing so amounts to re-victimization and threatens to hamper the ongoing investigation.
The police have requested anyone with further information regarding the incident to contact the Police Control Room at 9366498499 or by dialing 112, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential. The West Khasi Hills Police closed the communication by reassuring the public that strict action will be taken against all offenders according to the law, while appealing for community cooperation to refrain from sharing sensitive media.
