By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Almost one and a half months after an 18-year old girl was gang-raped at Williamnagar, the trial is moving at a snail’s pace with almost half of the time spent in issuing notices and legal consent for all the 16 accused.
Though the East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vijay Mantri hoped to finish the trial within two to three months time, now it seems that conviction would take a few more months.
“I have insisted the additional district magistrate (ADM) to conduct the trial every month but it depends on how the public prosecutor (pp) presents the case”, Mantri said.
Mantri also informed that so far, none of the 16 accused have been granted bail. “Since, it is a newly-formed district, we are yet to make use of the special powers like the other districts but we are moving in a fast track manner despite the absence of a fast track court”, EGH DC said.
The first trial of all the 16 accused was conducted on January 8. The case, which was initially taken up by the session court, was subsequently handed over to the court of additional district magistrate.
On December 13, the 18-year-old girl was gang raped by 16 boys while she was on her way home from the Simsang festival in Williamnagar.