TURA: With militancy being completely wiped out in Garo Hills, other crimes against women and children have reportedly increased in North Garo Hills District. Police say that just recently, multiple FIRs have been filed by different people at different police stations under the district.
“There are many unreported and indirect human trafficking, child marriage, kidnapping, prostitution and other crimes being committed against women in North Garo Hills. Criminals are luring them through impersonation and snatching young girls from the Assam-Meghalaya border,” a police official said.
On June 14, a 14-year-old girl along with her 7-year-old sister from Do’kongsi Village under Kharkutta police station was abducted by one, Muhamad Rahim Uddin Sheikh from Garomara under Goalpara in Assam. The accused even got married to the elder sister who is still a minor.
After the father of the victims filed an FIR at Kharkutta police station, the district police along with Goalpara police were able to rescue the victims on June 17. However, the accused was able to give the police a slip and has been absconding till today. A case under section 360/365 IPC and section 4/6/8/POCSO Act has been registered against the culprit.
With such incidents taking place more and more frequently, the district police is making efforts to mobilize the citizens so that such crimes can be prevented in future.
In this regard, the district police chief recently called a meeting where Nokmas, Sordars and community leaders were urged to ensure that every outsider, visitor or businessman who comes to the village is made to produce ID Cards before the village authority. The police would also indirectly monitor the entry and exit of any outsiders into any village.
