Impartial probe sought into minor’s rape by cop in Garo Hills
SHILLONG/NONGSTOIN/TURA: Sordid stories of rape came to the fore on January 1, the beginning of the New Year in parts of the State.
While gang rape of a 17-year-old girl was reported from Mawryngkneng in East Khasi Hills, a 13-year-old girl was raped by three persons in a similar way in South West Khasi Hills.
Police said around 9 pm on January 1, six persons – Sanlang Kharlukhi, Rimon Surong, Requestor Mukhim (the younger brother of the headman of Mawryngkneng village), Shan Dkhar of Mynso in West Jaintia Hills district who is the driver of the local headman, Sanbhalang Mawthoh and Banlumlang Rynjah – gang raped the 17-year-old girl at Mawmang, Mawryngkneng. The accused persons are absconding.
The incident took place when the girl was returning home from her aunt’s place after dinner. After committing the crime, the accused dragged the unconscious girl to the rented house of Rimon at Mawryngkneng. She gained consciousness around 10am the next day and fled the place as Rimon was asleep.
As per reports, the victim’s family thought that the Sordar of Mawryngkneng would hand over the accused to the police and reported the matter to him on January 2.
The Sordar instead tried for two days to bring them to a compromise in the presence of the local headman whose brother is an accused.
Hence the FIR was filed only on Wednesday with help from relatives who were informed about the incident late. They verbally informed the police about the matter on the evening of January 3. The medical examination of the girl was conducted at Mawryngkneng PHC.
The CSWO is following up the case and it demanded that bail to the accused should be rejected and authorities should ensure that the family does not face any threat from the traditional head of Mawryngkneng.
In another incident on January 1, three persons – identified as Michael Shangrit, Shares K. Dewsaw and Banteilang Syiemlieh – raped the 13-year-old girl, who is from Upper New Nongstoin, at Jakrem in South West Khasi Hills.
The three men and a woman, identified as Minaris Mawlieh, who is a neighbour of the minor girl, took the 13-year-old on a drive from Nongstoin to the Hot Spring in Jakrem around 1pm on January 1. On the way, the girl was forced to drink alcohol.
In her statement, the girl said she fell unconscious and woke up only when they came back to Nongstoin and found blood all over her.
After she narrated the story to her parents, the family complained to the Dorbar Shnong of Upper New Nongstoin where the Dorbar handed over the case to the Nongstoin Police. The three accused have been arrested.
Meanwhile, pressure groups from Garo Hills have petitioned the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills for an impartial probe into the rape of a minor girl by a police official posted at Dimapara Check Post on the night of December 23.
GHSMC chairman Nikman Ch Marak, who filed the complaint, said several youngsters attended a pre-Christmas disco organised at Dimapara Infiltration Check Post on December 23. He alleged that the revellers were served both soft and hard drinks. Minhoi Lawai, a policeman, “took advantage of the minor’s drunken state and raped her at his residence”.
According to Marak, an FIR was filed at the same check post though the OC was initially reluctant to accept it. He also alleged that the police denied medical examination saying the vehicle ran out of fuel and could not go to the hospital.
Local NGOs, including GHSMC-Tura, JAC-Baghmara and Mothers’ Union from Dalu and Dimapara organised a rally at Dimapara on December 29 demanding justice for the victim.