SHILLONG: Crimes against women and minors involving policemen are common in ‘matrilineal Meghalaya’ if one goes by the records.
Cases of rape, molestation, polygamy and murder by policemen have added another dimension to the atrocities against women.
Besides the recent rape of two minor sisters by the officer in charge of Ampati police station Narul Islam and the earlier case of SN Roy who was involved in the rape of a minor girl, there are several other pending cases involving policemen.
The pending cases include – murder of Saparina Marak by Constable Dominic Sangma of West Garo Hills in 2011; disciplinary action pending against Constable Rohit Koch for not claiming responsibility of a child born of one Hirmabha Koch though the DNA test in this regard had confirmed paternity; and grant of bail to Anwar Ali, a Constable of East Garo Hills accused of rape in Mahendraganj, Bagenjdoba and Shillong in 2010.
Regarding the crimes against women involving the men in uniforms, member of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) Gamchi Timre Marak said that police should also be accountable while stressing on the need to sensitize them on legal matter as well as providing counseling for them.
“Police reforms should be put in place and the higher authorities should see that the culprits are punished and corrective measures are taken in time,” she said adding that training and sensitizing of the police especially the constables is needed as most of them are not very educated.
Highlighting on the Hirmabha Koch case of 2011, Marak informed that Constable Rohit Koch had refused to marry her inspite of a written agreement.
This matter was also taken up at the meeting of the district level coordination committee on crime against women on April 16 at the office chamber of the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner.
According to the proceedings of the meeting, the MSCW decided to forward this case to the civil court to seek maintenance for the woman and also to the police for departmental disciplinary action.
Marak also informed that at present, the victim, Hirmabha Koch, is being provided legal aid to go ahead with the court proceeding. However, till date, no hearing has taken place.
“We are trying to fill in the gaps and see that even the police fall within the ambit of the law,” the MSCW member said adding that if the district level authority fails to take actions in such cases, “We will not hesitate to take up the matter to the higher ups.”
“The police men are expected to show good examples as protectors of law and not the other way round,” she asserted.
Crimes involving policemen
June 2013: Sub Inspector of Ampati PS Narul Islam escapes from police custody after twin rape slur
Dec 2011: Disciplinary action pending against Constable Rohit Koch for not claiming responsibilityof a child born of one Hirmabha Koch despite DNA test being positive.
June 2011: Constable Dominic Sangma of West Garo Hills arrested for killing his girlfriend Saparina Marak.
March 2011: SN Roy, Sub Inspector of Rynjah police station absconds after committing rape on a minor girl student at a hotel in Shillong.
November 2010: Anwar Ali, a constable of East Garo Hills is accused of rape in Mahendraganj, Bagenjdoba and Shillong. Ali was granted bail though he was suspended.