By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Statistics provided by the Meghalaya police department have revealed staggering figures of rape cases reported in the State, especially rape on minors which are growing at an increasingly alarming rate.
In the past year, approximately 48 rape cases have been registered in the East Khasi Hills alone. In the past few months, similar cases have been reported from other parts of the state as well.
The most recent reported rape of a minor is that of a three and a half-year-old, who was raped on Saturday at Mawlonghat village.
The rapist, Rishonroy Kharkongor who had raped the three and half-year-old, has been arrested and remanded to eight days police custody. Evidence indicates that there was an attempt of rape on the minor but the police are still continuing their investigation into the matter.
Talking to media persons in the city on Monday, East Khasi Hills SP, M Kharkrang, admitted that the steep rise in the number of crimes across the district is a cause of concern for the police.
Taking into consideration the rape incidents that have been reported in the year 2012, it is evident that at least one rape case is reported on a weekly basis in the district.
According to Kharkhrang the rape cases, especially of minors, are committed against the children of the lower income group; where both parents have to go to work. The culprit is usually someone well acquainted to the family of the victims.
Reacting to a query, Kharkrang suggested that a facility like a crèche should come up where working parents can keep their child safely, while they are at work.
“Criminals mostly target vulnerable children,” he said. “We have to educate people much more on the matter,” the official said. He added that the minimum punishment for a rapist is seven years, which can be extended to life imprisonment.
Kharkhrang rued that the conviction rate in rape cases is very low. He said, “One of the reasons for the low conviction rate in rape cases is because of pending trials.”
However, he said that with the recent direction from the police headquarters, hopefully there will be fast-track courts to dispose off rape cases.
Kharkhrang, lamented that crime against women like rape, cannot be stopped by the police alone. He said the people must also play a role in reducing this crime.
The police official is also of the view that parents must listen to the complaints of the children and take it seriously when they are complaining about any one who tries to take advantage of them.