Lawai urges people not to disturb peace
SHILLONG: With the rape victim and the family at Mawrynkreng feeling insecure, the Dorbar Shnong has stepped in to allay their fears.
The Dorbar Shnong of Mawrynkneng, however, stated that the allegations against the Sordar of the village, Peter Lawai and Rangbah Dong of Mawmang village, Goldenstar Mukhim, who were earlier arrested in the abetment of the gang-rape of the minor, were baseless.
The Dorbar Shnong, while stating that it has limitations in providing full security cover, however, had written to the Officer In charge of Mawrynkneng Police Station to provide protection to the victim and her family members.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Dorbar Shnong said that there can be a political angle as vested interests can take advantage of the situation.
“It is possible that people who are politically motivated may take advantages of the situation and create law and order problems within the village and also try to harm the victim or her family members in order to tarnish the image of the Dorbar Shnong and our Sordar Shnong Peter J lawai,”, the Dorbar Shnong said
Referring to the recent meeting after the release of Lawai, the statement said that Sordar and Rangbah Dong, Mawmang, had informed the people that they will defend their case in the court as they have faith in the judiciary and the rule of laws. The Sordar had urged the villagers to remain calm and not to do anything which may affect the victim and her family.
“The Sordar Shnong after his arrest, had requested the villagers to maintain peace and tranquillity and not to do any harm to the victim or her family who has accused him of kidnap, and abetment to the crime and even on the day he was released he had requested the people to be calm.” the statement said.
While the villagers had demanded ostracisation of the victim’s family when they learned about the allegations levelled against the Sordar, the Dorbar Shnong was against it and said, “the victim and her family will not be ostracised.”
“On the statement of the victim addressed to the child rights panel that the villagers stopped talking to the victim and the family after the incident, the Dorbar Shnong said that till date, it has not got any notice or information of such kind and even if it happens, the Dorbar Shnong will never endorse such kind of action”, it said. According to Dorbar Shnong, it has no right to tell the people to speak or not to speak with any people in the village and it entirely depended on the wish of the people.
Lawai has also urged the villagers not to disturb the peace full settlement of the victim and her family members and added that Dorbar Shnong has assured that the victim and her relatives will not face any discrimination.