Raj Bhavan and Marvelene’s Inn: Contrasting cases of sexual harassment victims
SHILLONG: She, a minor who was raped several times, was brave enough to file a complaint and expose the sex racket leading to the arrest of as many as 16 people, including that of Mawhati MLA Julius Dorphang.
In contrast, the two lady job seekers, whose private messages felled Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan, are yet to lodge any complaints either with the police or the Meghalaya State Women’s Commission.
The action of the 14-year-old girl, who does not have much education, still haunts the government as pressure is mounting on Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to drop Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh whose guest house at Rilbong was used several times for sexual abuse.
The private WhatsApp messages of the two lady job seekers for the post of Public Relations Officer at Raj Bhavan sent to a lady journalist, were that the Governor’s behaviour was inappropriate during the personal interview with him in December last.
One of them said in the message that she was hugged and kissed by the Governor and compared her with a Bollywood actress during the one on one interview with her around 7 pm on December 8. They had also claimed in the messages that the Governor had contacted them directly.
However, the Governor had denied these allegations. The WhatsApp messages made public had given fodder to the 100 Raj Bhavan employees to write to the Prime Minister and the President mentioning 11-point grievances on the style and functioning of the Governor.
Even after the resignation of the Governor, the two lady job applicants have not come forward to narrate their ordeal or file complaints. Media reports had said one of the victims sent a signed hand-written letter to a national news channel but the same was not given to the police.
Chairperson of Meghalaya State Commission for Women, Theilin Phanbuh,said the Commission tried to reach out to both the victims, but in vain.
Sources said the 14-year-old girl from a remote underdeveloped village in East Khasi Hills, who was sexually abused, is an example for others to emulate as her courageous act of filing FIR resulted in the arrests of many people.
During an interaction with this reporter recently, the girl had said it was her family which prompted her to go to police to narrate the incidents of sexual abuse.
The sources added that though the Governor resigned based on the allegations, proper investigation is the need of the hour based on the complaints of the victims and the Raj Bhavan staff.
A senior police official said no one has lodged any complaint with the police regarding the matter.
However, former Deputy Chief Minister in charge law Bindo Lanong said having known the names of the victims, the police should summon or meet them and take evidence. “There is no bar on the part of the police to take their statements,” he added.