By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The NCP has set four conditions for Home Minister Roshan Warjri to fulfill before withdrawing the PIL filed regarding the crime against women in Meghalaya.
In a letter addressed to the Home Minister, NCP leader Robert Kharshiing wanted the Government to make the fast track court fully functional to try cases related to crime against women.
Kharshiing also pointed out that no judge was appointed for the fast track court in Tura.
Other three demands include hearing of the cases of crime against women by the fast track courts on a day to day basis, to allow the victim to get the counsel or lawyer of her own choice and the need to videograph the statement of the victim before magistrates.
Kharshiing said that though the Home Minister did not respond to his call made recently, she called him over the phone on Monday morning and wanted to discuss the matter.
According to Kharshiing, he would be willing to withdraw the PIL if the Government fulfills the four demands made by him.
However, Warjri said that she did not make any appeal to Kharshiing to withdraw the PIL filed by him.
To a question on the demands, Warjri said that three fast tracks courts have been set up at Shillong, Tura and Jowai. A Special Court to try cases relating to rape alone has been set up at Nongstoin. Special public prosecutors have been appointed to pursue cases in each of these courts which are fully functional at present, she said.
“In respect to the Tura Court, the previous Judge had tendered his resignation and a new Judge, Narendra Singh Sangma has already been appointed and he assumed charge on April 1,” Warjri added.
Regarding the other three demands of Kharshiing, Warjri said that the Government is ready to examine them as they involved various departments.
The Home Minister also said that some new measures are also on the anvil. A separate Directorate of Prosecution has already been sanctioned by the Government and the recruitment rules are being framed in order to ensure that the best talent gets selected for the job, she said.
To deal with the crime against women, women police stations have already been set up at the headquarters of the seven older districts, and the move is already afoot to set up these in the newly created districts as well. Special Juvenile Police units have been constituted in all the eleven districts, she informed.
Referring to four cases of 2013 cited by Kharshiing, Warjri said that regarding the rape case in Rynjah last month, police had arrested Brijesh Barman, who attempted to rape his wife’s 12-year-old sister.
Regarding another case of a rape attempt on a three-year-old minor at her residence in Mawinganlah village, the Home Minister said that the accused Jusis Nongkhlaw (48) was also arrested.
The Home Minister also said that while the rape accused, Rakhal Hajong, involved in the crime against the 5-year-old girl in South West Garo Hills was arrested by the police, efforts are on to arrest the culprits involved in the murder of a 25-year-old woman hailing from West Garo Hills whose body was recovered from 12th mile under Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi District.