SHILLONG: A concerned mother of a minor in Ri Bhoi, whose daughter was reportedly raped by her stepfather, still fears for the safety of her daughter as the accused, who had absconded after the abominable crime came to the light, still remains untraced.
Speaking over the phone to The Shillong Times on Wednesday, the anxious mother said, “He is still absconding. He had perpetrated the crime last year but she was afraid to disclose it as he threatened to kill her. It was only when she gave birth to a premature baby that left us shocked”.
Living in trauma, the mother said that she does not want to leave her children – the 15-year-old victim and her younger brother.
“We are poor and I want to go to work. But every time I think of these two, I cannot, for our house is located at a remote place. Who knows when he may come? I cannot leave them alone,” she said.
Asked, she said that no one initially knew she was pregnant as her pregnancy was not visible.
She showed no signs of sickness or any uneasiness, the mother said.
Panic-stricken, the girl did not inform anything to her mother gave birth to a child at her sister-in-law’s house on July 29.
It was only after this that the girl divulged her ordeals to her sister-in-law, following which the mother was immediately summoned.
“She said it was Pa (step-father) who did it. She did not want to reveal anything as he has threatened to kill her,” the mother said.
The 15-year-old is currently doing well and is under medication.
The mother said that the staff from Social Welfare department from Nongpoh paid a visit to the family on Monday. However, the rendezvous was at the roadside, for the staff could not reach the residence owing to the road condition.
“They said they will come next week if we do not go to meet them. So, we met them on the roadside and they questioned her there,” she said.
The family was also called by the police and was asked about the whereabouts of the stepfather.
“I do not know where he is now. He fled away on the day my daughter gave birth to a baby”, the clueless mother said.
The mother also said that the family has urged upon the law enforcement to find him.