By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Inaction on the part of the police, the Protection Officer of the Social Welfare department and the West Khasi Hills district administration in a case related to alleged domestic violence has rendered a woman and her three children homeless.
There are allegations that the authorities concerned had failed to act on an FIR filed in April by one 26-year-old woman, Balarisalin Diengdoh, against her husband Shanting Marwein for assault and harassment after she refused to grant him a divorce.
Diengdoh, a mother of three children, has been married to Marwein for five-and-half years now. Their eldest daughter is 4 years old while the youngest is only seven months old. The family hails from Umkrem, Pariong in West Khasi Hills District.
According to the FIR filed by the woman, Marwein had assaulted her after she refused to grant him a divorce and had even thrown his wife and kids out of the house. He had also stolen her land deeds and some gold that she had inherited from her mother. The woman and her kids have now taken shelter in her mother’s house.
The FIR, filed in April, had been reported by the victim to the Social Welfare department which referred the case to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills.
However, no action has been taken by the authorities to ensure the safety and security of the woman and her three children.
Encouraged by the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities concerned, Marwein and his family members had recently stormed Diengdoh’s house and ransacked the belongings in the presence of the Sordar of the village, who is allegedly backing the accused.
The helpless woman was forced to run to her sister’s house with her children. However, when she returned home later that day, she found that all the doors had been nailed and closed.
“Being his wife, I have every right to seek food and livelihood security for my children but instead of complying with that right, he (Marwein) would often beat me and shut me up,” the FIR stated.
When contacted, Diengdoh expressed her determination to go ahead with the fight until justice is served. “I will fight for my rights and will not stop until my rights are being noticed and respected,” said Diengdoh, who is currently staying with her mother along with her three children.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the District Social Welfare Officer of Nongstoin, IK War, downplayed the delay of the office in taking action against the accused, stating that they needed the order of the court before acting on the case.
The officer also claimed that soon after the matter was reported to the department, the statement of the complainant was immediately sent to the Deputy Commissioner’s court.
“We have even sent a reminder to the court last month and it was only today (Thursday) that we have received an order from the court to hold a hearing on the case on June 25,” War added.
Meanwhile, the CSWO has approached the Meghalaya State Commission for Women and demanded immediate intervention into the matter.
“This is a clear act of violence against a woman and her children by a heartless family that has dared to oust a lady and her children by subjecting them to threats after much abuse,” CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said.