From Ronald Stone Syiem
NONGSTOIN: The West Khasi Hills District of the State has witnessed a spurt in the number of crimes against women with over 55 cases being reported across the district since 2011.
With around 337 rape cases pending investigation in the state, it is not surprising that 32 cases out of 55 in the district are that of rape. Out of the 55 cases, 31 were reported in 2011 (16 rape cases, 12 molestation cases, 2 kidnapping cases and 1 murder case) while 24 (16 rape cases, 5 molestation cases, 1 kidnapping case, 1 cruelty against women case and 1 murder case) have been registered till September 7 this year.
What is alarming is that majority of the victims of such crimes are minor girls.
According to sources, crime against women mostly goes unreported and the unofficial number of the atrocities committed against the fairer sex in the district would exceed the official tally. To thwart this upward trend, a fast track court was set up at Nongstoin on April 1 with an aim to hasten the judicial proceedings in such cases. The Special Judge Thomas Diengdoh, who was appointed for the same, has convicted four people till date.
The number, though small, is nevertheless encouraging especially for the victims who usually had to settle with the erring party at the district court earlier.
“Most of the cases relating to rape ended in a compromise between the victim and the culprit,” an official source said.
Meanwhile, talking to this scribe, Special Judge Diengdoh said, “I have pronounced judgment on four cases so far. Setting up of the fast track court has definitely proved beneficial for the rural womenfolk.”
As women in the district continue to live in a fear psychosis, the fast track court is promising to act as a deterrent force to the criminals on prowl and West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police R Muthu sounded optimistic when he said, “With the fast track court here, the crime against women would decline in the district.”
It may be mentioned that West Khasi Hills is the only district in the state to have a fast track court for crimes against women.
