SHILLONG: In a gruesome act, a differently-abled woman (37) was raped by one Shanbor Marboh (28) at Umkaliar here on Saturday morning.
According to the police, the accused, who hails from Umpling Laimaw, took advantage of the fact that the victim was both handicapped as well as mentally unsound, and raped her at Umkaliar on Saturday morning.
Police arrested the accused after a complaint was lodged against the crime.
Saturday’s incident is a grim reminder of the fact that rape cases against mentally-challenged victims have shown an increasing trend in the State this year as compared to the previous years.
In August, a 23-year-old mentally challenged girl was raped residing in South West Garo Hills while her parents were away at work.
In May, a complaint was lodged against one Drasing Shylla that in November, last year, he had raped his own niece, a 14-year-old mentally challenged girl at Barato village in West Jaintia Hills.
The same month another case was registered against one Bratstar Pariong (30) for allegedly raping his 13-year-old mentally-challenged niece in West Khasi Hills on several occasions over the course of several months after which the girl reportedly became pregnant.
In February, a 24-year-old mentally challenged girl was allegedly raped by one Starly Lamare of Nartiang (Pohiaw), West Jaintia Hills when the victim was alone in her house.
Earlier in December, 2012, a differently-able girl of Mawiaban Village in Nongstoin was gang-raped by a group of three men identified as Orlandus Marshillong of Umwahlang village, Kwom Lyngkhoi of Mawlieh village and Dino Puwein of Mawmarin villag, at the nearby Umkynraw forest in West Khasi Hills. Out of the three accused, police has, so far, managed to arrest only Dino Puwein.
In September, 2012, a disabled woman, who is a mother of two, was raped by one Bankhring Nongrim at her residence at Pynurkba, about 40 kms from Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills. The victim is said to be deaf and dumb. The accused, identified as a resident of Nongjrong, Smit, is a father of three children.