SHILLONG, SEPT 26: Eight members of a women organization from a locality in the city were detained by the police in connection with the recent assault of three girls, whose hairs was tonsured in public here on Tuesday evening.
The members of the Seng Longkmie of Pynthor were picked up by women police of Pastuer Beat House from the premises of the Meghalaya State Women’s Commission (MSWC)’s office based on an FIR lodged by CSWO on September 24.
Earlier before they were taken to the Sadar police station, the representatives of the Seng Longkmie had appeared before the MSWC who had summoned them after a complaint filed by the Manbha Foundation.
“We have detained eight members of the Seng Longkmie for questioning and identification,” SP Vivek Syiem said.
Asked, he said that the police are in the process of identifying the women involved in the assault before making arrest.
The Civil Society Women’s Organization had filed the FIR with the Pastuer Beat House based on a video clipping of the alleged torturing of the girls, who were assaulted with scissor besides beaten with stick at Pynthor area on September 14.
Two-three members of the Seng Longkmie were seen in the video clipping while cutting the hairs and beating the victims mercilessly.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, MSWC chairperson Theilin Phanbuh said that the role of the Commission now is limited since the matter has gone to the Court.
“However, we will be working with the police on the case and will be examining the video clipping too,” she said.
Phanbuh however informed that the hearing today was inconclusive as the victims were not in a position to appear before the Commission for their statements on the incident.
“In view of this, we will have to summon the victims later for their statements,” she said.
Asked, the chairperson admitted that this kind of moral policing has gone a little bit too far and said, “Any organization if they are taking the law in their own hands they should be condemned.”
She also appealed that any incident within the locality or a village should immediately be informed to the police, who will take action as per law of the land.
Interestingly, one of the members of the Seng Longkmie while being taken on a police vehicle defended the action taken by the Seng Longkmie that “it was to save the three girls from being attack by a mob”.
“The crowd that had gathered in the place wanted to attack the girls. However, the Seng Longkmie just to appease the mob decided to cut the hairs of the girls in order to prevent any untoward incident that may harm them,” she said.
She claimed that earlier on September 12, the Seng Longkmie had also apprehended two of the three girls along with a non-tribal fellow and were released after signing an agreement and issuing of strict warning.
However just after two days, the same girls were again apprehended on September 14, this time there were three girls along with three boys from a vehicle, she said.
She also alleged that the Seng Longkmie had also recovered intoxicants from the vehicles, where they were allegedly found doing indecent acts.
On the other hand, one of the victims while speaking to reporters demanded that the Seng Longkmie should clarify as to what made them to harass fellow women in such a brutal manner.
“How can women expose other women’s humiliation in the social media? What wrong have we done on that day that made them to take such step against us? I want answers,” she said.
Stating that the she would fight for her rights, the victim said that she would also lodge an FIR against the Seng Longkmie.
She said that on the day when the incident took place, she along with her friends was just passing through the locality when their vehicle was stopped by the people.
“The moment we stop our car, they just pulled us out and start beating us while cursing and using filthy languages, which is unexpected from women of a locality,” she said.
Meanwhile, Manbha Foundation director Dr Rica Lamar said that they are happy that the police have taken action by picking up the people involved in the act.
She informed that the three victims were severely injured and had many bruises in their bodies especially in their arms and legs with a lot of swelling and intense pain.
“One victim has been admitted in the hospital after she was poke with a hockey stick on abdomen side and she is now in intense pain, while the other victim is having some infection and is having high fever and all the three are in a very bad shape and are mentally suffering a lot and there are ideation of committing suicide etc and they are in a extreme fear,” she said.
Asked, Dr Rica said from the organization side, they will do their best and see the victims get justice as they are not alone.
By Our Reporter
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