By Ibankyntiew Mawrie
SHILLONG: The number of rape cases, where both the victims and the accused are minors, is alarmingly on the rise in the State. Lack of parental care and guidance coupled with broken families is apparently adding up to such cases.
Commenting on the issue, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang said that incidences involving minors varies from case to case. “In some case, lack of parental care and guidance can be one reason”, he said.
Referring to the recent case where six minor boys including a student of St Rose Secondary School were arrested for having sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old girl, also belonging to the same school, Kharkrang said that this is one case where lack of parental care among others is the reason for the crime.
Another cause of concern is the lack of crèches where the minors can be kept while their parents go to work.
Stressing on the need for crèches, the SP said that police have propagated the need to have more crèches through various awareness programmes.
He also stated that the responsibility should not only be bestowed upon the government, but the society as a whole should take a call on this matter.
“There is a need to have crèches so that when the bread earning mothers go to work, they can keep their children, otherwise vulnerable to abuse, at a safe place,” Kharkrang said.
Stating that lack of parental care is another reason leading to many social ills, the MSWC chairperson said, “The basic foundation lies at one’s home. If enough care and guidance is not given to a child by the guardians, it would have an adverse effect on the family as well as the society.”
She also maintained that family values are on the decrease in the present age and parents have a big role to play in restoring moral values.
“The parents should take extra care of their children and they should not allow their school going kids to carry cell phones as this will attract many unwanted ills evoking the kids to commit crimes,” Phanbuh added.
On the same note, Principal of St Anthony’s Higher Secondary School Fr Bernard Pala stressed on the need for parents to spend that extra bit of time with their children rather than leaving them alone with the television or the internet.
Fr Pala also rued the liberty given by some parents to their kids to carry cell-phones to the schools stating that this is one device which can influence the kids and invite anti-social behaviour.
“In schools, we have limited role to play as the children spend only a short span of time with us. However, while they are with us, we do impart value education classes to the students on respect, value and personality in all aspects,” Fr Pala said.
Stating that the students have to understand and respect themselves before they can respect the world, Fr Pala said it is very important for each individual to develop their overall personality spiritually, mentally and physically.
“We are doing our best in the schools to impart these values in the kids and sex education imparted to students of class 9 to 12 is one aspect which can go a long way in tackling issues like rising rape cases,” he added.
Rape cases involving minors
lRape of a 10-year-old girl by her school mate, a 9-year-old boy of St Rose Secondary School at Umpling and six other minor boys aged between 12 and17 from other schools.
lOn June 8, 2013, one minor boy (13) raped two minor girls, both aged five years at Nawalgre in West Garo Hills. Police arrested the juvenile and forwarded him to Juvenile Home, Tura.
lThe trial in the infamous Williamnagar gang-rape case is yet to reach its logical conclusion as the court is still awaiting forensic report of the incident where an 18-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by a group of 16 boys in the district headquarter on December 13 last. The accused have been released on bail.
lRape of four minor girls of the same family by a 12-year-old boy in the past one year (2012) at 4th Mile, Upper Shillong.
lOn February 2 and in November 2012, a minor boy (14) raped a minor girl (8) at Saiden in Ri-Bhoi.
lA minor boy was arrested for allegedly raping a 10-year-old relative at his residence at Jhalupara on June 30, 2013.
lOn March 20, 2013 at around 2 pm, one Ignesius Nongsiang (19) raped one minor girl (3) at Mawlangdep village, West Khasi Hills.
lOn December 5, 2012, one Arup Barman (15) along with his friend raped a minor girl (4) at Kper Shyiap, Pynthorbah.
lOn October 24, 2012, one minor boy raped a five-year-old girl at 3rd Mile Upper Shillong.