By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Taking strong note of the inordinate delay on the part of the State Government in following up the December 13 Williamnagar gang rape case, former Rajya Sabha MP Robert Kharshiing on Thursday filed a public interest litigation (PIL) with the Supreme Court urging it to issue a show cause notice to the Government of Meghalaya and the State Police for their shoddy response to the incident.
Kharshiing also alleged that one of the rapists is related to a sitting minister which is resulting in further delay in the progress of the case even as the victim’s family is being threatened by surrendered militants to remain silent on the matter.
While questioning the transfer of the then DGP Kulbir Krishan when the case was forwarded to the court, the former MP said, “Krishan had suggested that such a horrific case should be heard on a day-to-day basis. Was he transferred because he dared to make the suggestion despite knowing that one of the relatives of a minister was involved in the incident?”
Kharshiing, who is also the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentarians and Professionals Forum urged the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Altamas Kabir, through the PIL, to ensure justice to the 18-year old victim who was gang-raped by 16 boys while she was on her way home from the Simsang festival in Williamnagar on the fateful night.
Kharshiing also urged the apex court to issue a show cause notice to the Government and the State Police on the specific steps taken for protection of the victim and her family, the safety of social activists taking up the cause and steps taken to prevent crimes against women in the State.
“In the light of the stringent Anti-Rape Law passed in Parliament, what action has been taken against the police officers, state officials or politicians involved in the hushing up of the rape of the girl and why should not they be summoned to appear before the Supreme Court?,” he further stated in the PIL.
Talking about the constant threats and intimidation by surrendered militants, Kharshiing sought a reply on the security being provided to the rape victim, her parents and the women activists who took up the cause.
He also drew the attention of the court to the recent arrest of CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing stating that the social activist who has been at the forefront in seeking justice for the victim was arrested on flimsy grounds. “Why are the cases against her not being withdrawn immediately?” he asked while adding that Agnes’s arrest was an attempt to ‘silence and intimidate her.’
Kharshiing also pointed out that Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma spoke over the phone to a news channel trying to explain the position of the State Government on the issue.
Though, there was a six-fold rise in cases of rape registered annually in the state between 2001 (26 cases) and 2010 (149 cases) and 830 rape cases have been registered between 2002 and 2012 of which 500 are still pending trial in various courts, the conviction rate remains awfully low. In Garo Hills alone, 23 rape cases, including two gang-rape cases, have been pending for over a decade.