By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a new twist to the Williamnagar gang-rape case, the 18-year-old victim discontinued her studies in a School in Williamnagar arranged by the district administration, allegedly citing discomfort. She is now under the custody of an NGO leader in Tura.
While an official with the East Garo Hills District administration said on Tuesday said that it had arranged a school run by the missionaries with hostel facilities for the victim in Williamnagar so that she can pursue her studies, the NGO leader, who took the custody of the girl, said that she did not want to be in Williamanagar as ‘there are many people who know her’.
Extra Assistant Commissioner L Daring, posted in Williamnagar, said over phone that it was during the Easter holiday break that the victim’s brother took her from the hostel.
According to Daring, the intention of the district administration was to help the girl as it thought that the atmosphere in the hostel with over 100 students will be comfortable for her.
It was after some schools in Tura, West Garo Hills did not want to admit her that the East Garo Hills district administration took the initiative to find a school in Williamnagar.
However, when an NGO leader came and approached the district administration to take the custody of the girl, the opinion of parents was sought.
According to Daring, the parents informed that their daughter was not comfortable with the hostellers as many of them knew her. Subsequently the brother of the victim took her and later the NGO provided shelter to her.
A senior official with the East Garo Hills District administration clarified that the admission of the girl in the school and accommodation in a hostel in Williamnagar was never forced upon the girl as she and her parents had agreed to the suggestion of the district administration, contrary to the claim of some NGOs that she was given admission by force.
The NGO leader, Jaynie N Sangma, who took custody of the girl, said over phone from Tura that the girl was not happy to be in Williamangar and hence she took her to Tura with the consent of the parents.
Sangma also revealed that earlier the girl was with her in Tura till the East Garo Hills District Administration offered her admission in a school in Williamnagar.
“The girl wanted to be away from Williamnagar where the crime took place as she did not want to undergo the trauma,” said Sangma, who is a member of People’s Movement of Democratic Rights based in Tura.
Sangma, who is also a school teacher, said that search is on to find a school for the girl.
However, time is running short as the midterm examination is scheduled in June and she may miss out a year. The girl had been admitted in Class VIII in the school at Williamnagar.