By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In yet another blow to the ‘matrilineal society’ of Meghalaya, a 24-year-old mentally challenged girl was allegedly raped by one Starly Lamare of Nartiang (Pohiaw), West Jaintia Hills on February 15 at the house of the victim when she was alone.
Family members of the victim have stated that they filed an FIR a day after the rape was allegedly committed and even send the girl for medical examination on that day.
However, the medical reports have claimed that victim had previously had sexual intercourse with the same man, which the family has out rightly rejected.
“It would be totally wrong to come to a conclusion that my sister already had sexual intercourse with this man because she is not in her right mind to do that,” the victim’s brother said here on Monday, adding that, “My sister’s statement has not yet been recorded and the report is based on the statement of the accused who had confessed that he had raped the mentally ill victim on two occasions.”
Meanwhile, the CSWO, has come down heavily on the case, saying that they will not tolerate inefficiency of police and doctors when it comes to handling rape cases as such crimes seem to be on the rise every day.
Alleging that the doctor and the police were trying to help the accused, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said that instead of taking the whole thing, only a portion of the victim’s clothes was cut off and taken for examination.
“The doctor and the police seem to have decided that it was a mutual act, despite the fact that an FIR alleging rape had been filed.
Stating that the CSWO will report this case to the NHRC, Kharshiing said, “We will take action so that women are protected and not harassed, even after such traumas, by those in service abusing their powers to help the perpetrators”.
The CSWO president also urged the West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner to look into the matter and to seek a second opinion by a responsible doctor.
