Rape victims await justice
SHILLONG: The absence of fast track court in the state coupled with low conviction rate and frequent bails to the accused, has resulted in soaring crimes against women and minors in the state.
The recent rape and murder of two minors (3 and 11 years old) from East Jaintia Hills by a serial offender Michael Dkhar has shocked the residents.
The anger against the crime had also resulted in some unidentified persons torching the house of the accused.
Sources said that strangely, there was condemnation and demand for stern action only from one NGO, All Jaintia Youth Welfare Organization (AJYWO), but there was allegedly stoic silence on the part of Chairperson of state child rights body, and other pressure groups in the state.
A law department official said that from April, 2015, due to paucity of fund, state government was compelled to discontinue the fast track courts set up in Shillong, Tura, Jowai and another Special Court set up in Nongstoin to try the rape cases.
Earlier, the Centre had provided funds to carry on with the fast track courts in the state headed by retired judges.
After the Centre stopped funding for the fast track courts in 2010, the state government continued with the system from 2010 till 2015, but had to discontinue due to the paucity of fund coupled with the separation of judiciary from executive.
Sources said that Rs 20 lakh is required per year for maintaining a fast track court in the state.
Besides stopping the fast track courts, the special court set up by in Nongstin top try the rape cases was also discontinued.
The official from the law department said that after the discontinuation of fast track courts , the rape cases and other crimes against women are dealt by Sessions Judge.
Moreover, the cases related to Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) is handled by a different judge.
However, the cases are very often adjourned resulting in delay in getting justice to the victims.
A public prosecutor admitted that besides the lack of scientific investigation on the part of the police, low conviction rate is also a factor which emboldens the rapists.
“We have not heard awarding death sentence to any accused in the rape and murder cases in Meghalaya”, he added