Marvelene’s Inn owners escape POCSO
SHILLONG: Taking exception to the statement made by Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh that he does not need to resign, TUR said during the scheduled rally on January 11 from 11 am to be held at Madan Iewrynghep, one of the demands will be his resignation.
“There is a saying that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. The Home Minister has to be reminded of this and made to answer the simple question as to why Marvelene’s Inn and its owners have not been booked till date,” TUR said in a statement issued to the media on Friday.
The statement said Section 21 (1) (2) of the POCSO Act clearly states that omission to report a crime against a minor attracts punishment.
“The girl was taken to this inn on two occasions. Responsibility is not only of the waiter but the management and owners of this undertaking and we reiterate that HDR Lyngdoh has to step down to facilitate an independent and timely investigation,” TUR said.
Follow-up on gang rape
TUR also condemned the recent gang rape of a minor girl at Mawryngkneng and the rape of two other minor girls in South West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills.
“It appears that the state mechanisms have no will to ensure speedy investigations and bringing the culprits to book,” TUR said.
TUR has decided to file FIRs against Woodland Hospital and Bethany Hospital for refusing medical aid and examination to the victim from Mawryngkneng and will follow up on reports that a similar breach of the law took place in Garo Hills.
“As per Section 166 B of the IPC ‘whoever being in charge of a hospital, public or private, or run by the central or state governments, local bodies or any other and contravenes provisions of Section 357C of the CrPC shall be punished with imprisonment up to one year or fine or both’,” the statement read.
TUR has also decided to hold accountable other public servants, including police, who failed to register an FIR in the first instance in the Mawryngkneng case.
Section 166(A) states that whoever being a public servant fails to record any information given to him under sub-section (1) of Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), in relation to cognizable offence punishable under section 326A, 326B, 354, 354B, 370, 370A, 376, 376A, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376E or 509, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two years, and shall also be liable to fine.
TUR also condemned the role of the Sordar Shnong and Rangbah Dong of Mawryngkneng who misled the victim and her family through veiled threats and inducements to compromise with the perpetrators and for forcing the victim to face the perpetrators on two occasions post the incident, which is against the law.