Says wanted to file FIR on January 2
SHILLONG: The Sordar of Mawryngkneng village, Peter J. Lawai, on Thursday denied claims of the 17-year-old gang rape victim’s relatives that he tried to bring them on a negotiation table and said he condemn the heinous crime.
In a statement to the media, Lawai said, “I reiterate that at no point of time did I or any member/members of the village Dorbar or the village head tried to bring any of the parties to compromise or tried to facilitate any form of compromise.”
Alleging that some persons with vested interests were making “false and baseless allegations” against the Dorbar and the village head on the basis of surmises and conjectures, Lawai said he would ensure co-operation with the victim’s family.
“I beg to clarify herein that once the matter was brought to my attention on the night of January 2, I had advised the victim and her family members to approach the Police for immediate action as per law and categorically informed both the parties that the village Dorbar cannot facilitate any form of compromise,” he said.
“When I met the family members of the victim, they informed me that they wish to first take the girl for treatment to Shillong on the next day i.e. on January 3 and that they would file the FIR on January 3 after coming from Shillong.
“On the evening of January3, I accompanied the victim and her family members to the police station and reported the matter to the police personnel present,” he added. Lawai said he volunteered to lodge the FIR on January 2 but when the family members of the victim expressed that they should do the needful on January 3, “I refrained from filing the FIR myself”.
The Sordar said he has asked the family members of the six accused to immediately facilitate surrender of the accused to the police so that necessary action could be taken as per the law of the land.