Huge turnout to condemn minor’s rape

SHILLONG, MAY 16: Braving rain and inclement weather, shops and business establishments downed its shutter on Thursday morning as most of its residents joined the protest march organized to condemn the brutal rape of a seven year old girl on March 8 and also put pressure on the district administration to apprehend the culprits responsible for the heinous crime.

The protest march however was not confined to the residents of Malki locality as ngos and prominent personalities of the city like legislator Jemino Mawthoh and State Commission for Women chairperson Thelin Phanbuh also joined the procession. The student community turned out in large number.

Organised by the Malki Dorbar Shnong, the protest march saw participation from hundreds of concerned citizens as the serpentine line marched through Nongshilang, Khlieh Shnong, Dhanketi and culminating in Malki ground where a public rally was held.

The seven years old victim of the rape had been admitted in NEIGRIHMS and was released on Wednesday. She was taken to the jungle in Malki and was raped. The incident had outraged the residents of Malki and other localities which made the Malki Dorbar Shnong to organize the protest rally and pressurize the government to take the case seriously, apprehend the criminals and give exemplary punishment that would be a deterrent to other likeminded criminals.

After the rally a public meeting was held at Malki ground wherein Phanbuh felt that the government must appoint a strong public prosecutor so that the culprit doesn’t get away because of weak prosecution from the government side.

Another speaker Malki Presbyterian school principal P Nongneng  called on women legislators of Meghalaya to take serious note of the rape incident and hoped that they would take steps in seeing that government formulate policy that ensure “zero tolerance” to such heinous crime. Another speaker suggested that criminals who indulge in such heinous crime must not only be punished by law but should also be ostracized by the society.

After the meeting a five points memorandum was submitted to the Meghalaya chief secretary WMS Pariat by  Malki Dorbar Shnong secretary B Warjri asking among others to hand over the investigation of rape case the crime branch of the state police as it felt that this branch has professionals who are competent in handling such case.

The memorandum requested Pariat to issue necessary order so that the crime branch could take up the investigation, apprehend and punish the culprits even as it asked the government to provide post-trauma counseling to the victim and also provide ex-gratia payment to her guardian.

The rape of the seven years old girl is a grim reminder of the rising number of rape cases perpetrated on minor in Meghalaya. Official statistic from the Meghalaya State Crime Record Bureau indicates that in the past seven years up to 2012 269 minors have been raped in the state.

Only in 2012, 78 cases of rapes of minors have been registered while 57 in 2011, 41 – 2010, 17 – 2009, 35 – 2008, 24 – 2007 and 17 – 2006. If one closely analysis the figures, rape against minors are increasing every year, but the rate of arrest and conviction is negligible which embolden criminals to continue with such cannibalistic act.- By Our Reporter