Baring their torsos, the young men belonging to 22 outfits marched through the streets of Sibsagar town and later held a meeting outside the Deputy Commissioner's office. They were joined by hundreds of bystanders, official sources said.
They were, however, stopped from entering the DC's office premises by police personnel who set up barricades.
"We resorted to this unique protest as the Army and the administration have taken no steps to punish the guilty jawans even as more than ten days have passed since the incident," Ashwini Chetia, advisor to the All Tai Ahom Students' Union (ATASU) said.
Besides ATASU, the other outfits which took part in the protest include Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), All Assam Students' Union (AASU), Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and Brihattar Asomiya Parishad.
"We will continue our agitation programme till all our demands are met including punishment of the guilty jawans and Rs 10 lakh compensation for the girl," Chetia said.
The protestors have also called for removal of the Army from Sibsagar district and withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Chetia said.
Locals have urged the government to deal with the case in line with the infamous July 10 molestation case of a girl outside a pub in Guwahati.
The victim of the Demow incident had gone to collect firewood in the flood affected area on July 13 when she was allegedly molested by some jawans posted in a nearby army camp. She was resuced by the villagers who lodged a complaint with the local police station.
One of the jawans has been arrested and is in Army custody.
