SHILLONG: The CSWO has demanded a strong Government Prosecution to protect the interest of the children and to provide speedy justice to victims of murder and rape, trafficked children, torture of children and child labour.
In a memorandum submitted to the State Law Minister, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said that in view of the rising crimes against women and children in the State, it is the duty of the State to provide a strong Government Prosecution to enable Government to protect children from murderers, rapists, traffickers, torturers, abusers, exploiters in the sex trade and labour, and facilitate punitive action against the perpetrators of such crimes.
Kharshiing alleged that State appoints Government Pleaders and APPs who are not taking seriously such crimes and these Government appointees are also not experienced in handling such serious cases, which then leads to acquittal of the alleged accused.
“It is also seen that in cross examination of serious sexual crimes perpetrated against children the witnesses were asked irrelevant questions without any objections from some of the APPs,” she said while alleging that there are also instances of connivance between the prosecution with the defence counsels, to not make objections to bail on certain serious crimes, whereby the perpetrators are let off easily and this gives a signal to other perpetrators that the law will go easy on them, which then gives rise to these crimes against women and children.
CSWO also asked the Government to appoint dedicated legal counsels as Govt. Prosecutors and also senior APPs be appointed to tackle such cases with in-depth study of the case so that the perpetrators are booked and wrong accusations are not entertained.
CSWO condemns attack on EJH police chief
The CSWO also strongly condemned the attack on the East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police by the supporters of the Movement for Indigenous Peoples’ Right for Livelihood-Meghalaya, as reported in the various media.
CSWO alleged that many politicians and high ranking police have interests in coal mines and are not serious in tackling the destruction of the environment and the pollution of water bodies
The CSWO also demanded that the Government should also file a case in the special court against the attackers for the act of destruction of public property.