By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Health and Family Welfare Department failed to act on the requests of the Chairperson of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) to constitute a medical board to make investigation into the high profile rape ad trafficking case free of glitches.
SCPCR chairperson Meena Kharkongor had in February called for setting up a medical board that would examine whether Edmund Paul Kharir, the manager of Marvelene’s Inn and accused in the trafficking of a 14-year-old girl, was feigning sickness.
After his arrest on February 9, Kharir was admitted to Civil Hospital on the same day but it was not clear what ailment he had or how serious his medical condition is.
The Special POCSO Court recently granted bail to Kharir on medical grounds since he was referred to Guwahati for medical treatment.
S. Das Gupta, the investigating officer at Laban police station, in a submission to the Special POCSO Court, had mentioned “ill health” without giving any details.
According to the submission, Kharir was released from Civil Hospital on February 17. Again on the next day, the accused complained of “ill health” and was sent to Civil Hospital for check-up.
He was released from the hospital on March 13, but he complained of “ill health in the court room” and again taken to Civil Hospital, the submission said.
On the same day, Civil Hospital referred Kharir to NEIGRIHMS where he was released after some medical tests.
Despite Kharir complaining of ill health several times, there was no clear report about his ailment. At this juncture, SCPCR felt the need of a medical board at Civil Hospital to ascertain what Kharir was suffering from.
A reminder was sent to the hospital and it was informed that the matter was taken up with the Director of Health Services (DHS) but the latter did not allegedly respond. By then, Kharir was already released on bail.
Medical boards are usually constituted in hospitals for special cases where a team of doctors sees if the accused is really sick or faking illness.
Marvelene’s Inn, which was run by the family of Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh, was used several times to rape the minor girl but the manager had repeatedly feigned ignorance of the flesh trade going on in the guest house. The owners too had washed their hands of all responsibilities.
However, many sex workers in the city had revealed that Kharir had contacted them and knew what was happening in the guest house.