TURA: The combined NGOs of North Garo Hills comprising of the Federation of A’chik Freedom (FAF), Garo Students’ Union (GSU) and the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) all coming under the GSU, CEC Tura have condemned the recent rape of an 11-year-old minor from Resu-Nanggaburi in the district.
While condemning the inhuman act, the combined NGOs demanded that the district Deputy Commissioner award maximum punishment to the accused as permissible according to law and not to show any mercy or be moved by the emotional outburst of his relatives in order to deter similar acts by child molesters and rapists in future.
The NGOs also demanded that the accused, a teacher by profession be terminated from service and that the culprit is booked under the provisions of Protection of Children against Sexual Offence Act and not under Section 154 CrPC.
“Only such an action will ensure some justice for the victim and her family. We also request you to take all necessary preventive steps so that such barbaric incidents are not repeated in the District,” the combined NGOs stated in its letter to the Deputy Commissioner.
The NGOs also revealed that some of the relatives of the accused were trying to pressurize the victim’s family to withdraw the FIR already filed by the victim’s parents.
It warned that the student community as well as the youth of the district would not remain passive if strict and exemplary punishment is not meted out to the accused and that it would not be responsible for any law and order problems in the district if it was forced to initiate its own course of action for the fulfillment of its demands.
The rapist, Periglesh M Momin who happens to be the uncle of the victim is a teacher in a Government Primary School and the son of one, Hirendro N Marak. The rape had been repeatedly committed on the night of April 6. The accused has since been taken into custody and is undergoing police investigation.
