SHILLONG: The chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Meena Kharkongor, is optimistic that justice will prevail in the case related to the serial rape of a minor girl by MLA Julius Dorphang, amongst others.
Taking a cue from the sentencing of self-styled godman and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, she pointed to the role of the judiciary which she hoped will not yield to any political pressure while handing down sentences on accused persons, particularly those accused of rape.
“When such influential people get convicted we look up to the judiciary and hope that even our courts here will never be influenced by political or any kind of pressure and give justice to victims who really deserve it,” she said.
“As with the high profile case which we are having now, if everything goes well, I think conviction is guaranteed for all the persons who are involved in exploiting the minor girl. We hope the judiciary rises to the occasion and delivers justice to victims,” she added.
Kharkongor said though the Ram Rahim case is not related to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012, and is about the sexual assault of women, the CBI court had done its job well to have convicted him after a gap of 15 years.
Dorphang has been booked under the POCSO Act, which is a stringent law. “We hope to see many more convictions where prima facie cases are there involving sexual assault victims. As it is we have a lot of pending cases in our state,” she said.
As for the pending cases, she said the law department was already trying to set up special courts and observed that the High Court would call for advertisements for special judges under its purview.
Commenting on the manner of investigation by the police department, she said it was better than before as the police personnel were being trained and have an understanding of the POCSO Act.
Kharkongor cautioned the parents to be extra vigilant on their children, both boys and girls, while dealing with relatives.
