By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Yet another glaring case of a compromise between the family of a minor rape victim and the accused has surfaced from 20 miles Lumtyllaw in Ri-Bhoi district.
Reports have surfaced that the family members of a six-year-old minor who was allegedly raped by a 30-year-old man, one Kordor Syngkli hailing from the same village, had been forced to ‘reach a compromise’ after being threatened with dire consequences if they failed to do so.
The matter came to light on Wednesday after an FIR was filed by CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing at Byrnihat PS against Kordor Syngkli following which police swung into action and arrested the accused.
The FIR stated that the accused had taken the six-year-old girl to his house on some pretext on November 17 and committed the heinous crime.
According to the FIR, the accused, after raping the minor, gave her Rs 10 with a warning to keep her mouth shut.
“There was a delay in filing the FIR because the parents of the victim, being ignorant, had informed the local headman of the crime thinking that he would file an FIR on their behalf,” Kharshiing said.
She said that the village Dorbar had delayed filing the FIR because they wanted to settle the case by themselves by asking the victim’s family to compromise with the accused.
According to Kharshiing, the actions shown by the headman and the village Dorbar are highly unacceptable, considering that the accused is a relative of the headman.
“The Dorbar asked the victim’s family members to pay a fine and even went to the extent of ostracizing the victimized family,” she said.
“I urge the Police department to hold workshop with the village headmen on the punishments involved in being an accomplice of a crime and attempting to hide a crime as heinous as rape,” she added.
Minor raped at Mawngap
Police have arrested one Betstarling Basan (30) of Lempluh village near Nongspung for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl at Tiehlong Myrten village under Mawngap Outpost on Tuesday evening. The accused was arrested on Wednesday from Weiloi, East Khasi Hills district.