SHILLONG: The three girls who were assaulted by the vigilante group of Pynthor have given their statement to the State Commission for Women narrating their September 14 ordeal.
The girls stated that on that fateful day, six (three girls and three boys) of them were travelling from Demseiniong in a vehicle and as they passed by Pynthor, a group of women who were patrolling the area, stopped their car at 11:30 pm.
They alleged that as they stepped out of the car, the women started beating them up with hockey sticks.
“The community people and the Rangbah Shnong were saying that the boys were unlucky as they were caught with us. But had they come with some other girls, they would have been released,” the girls said in their statement.
Alleging that the community people pushed and slapped them, the girls said the women accused them of being prostitutes and that their hair should be chopped off.
“They cut our hair, they were also planning to cut the boys’ hair but the men folk stopped them saying it was their first time,” the statement mentioned.
The girls narrated the ordeal which went on till morning during which people took videos and threatened to send the videos to the press.
The people passed judgement on their dressing sense, nose rings and repeatedly hit them with sticks and pulling their hair, they stated.
The community people seized their phones and they were not allowed to call their parents. Worse still, at 2 am, the arrival of the police proved futile as they too encouraged the crowd to beat the girls.
The girls were taken to the police station only at 5am but their parents did not arrive till 9:30 am, which prompted them to call up Manbha Foundation for help.
For the past five days, the girls are attending counselling sessions.
No arrests so far
Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills, Davis Marak said no arrests have been made so far in the assault of the three girls at Pynthor on September 14.
When contacted, he said, “No arrests have been made although a case has been registered. Efforts are on to identify the people involved.”
CSWO condemnation
Terming the assault on the three women as violation of human rights, the Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO) has condemned the “barbaric act of the Seng Kynthei Pynthor.”
In a statement issued here, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said the law did not permit the act of humiliating them and assaulting them with scissors and a baton-like hockey stick.
“The CSWO urges the Women Commission to ensure that the persons responsible should be brought to book,” she said.
Kharshiing urged the police department to arrest the perpetrators immediately as it was a clear cognizable crime of serious nature.
Manbha Foundation has also shot off a petition to the Women’s Commission against the act and statements of the complaints were also attached.
