In 7 years 269 minors raped, state shamed

SHILLONG, APR 21: It is not only “Shame India” but also “Shame Meghalaya” as rapes of minors is not the malady that has made Delhi, UP or Bihar fearful places to live in for women and children but Meghalaya also is increasingly making it into the list of “fearful places” as statistic indicates that in the past seven years 269 minors have been raped in the state.

This statistic is not a collection of the rape incidents reported in newspapers but an official numbers provided by the Meghalaya State Crime Record Bureau.

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.

Concern over the rise in cases of rapes of minors in Meghalaya CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing feels that such cases must be taken as “top priority” and officials- police, assistant public prosecutors and doctors- who are found to be guilty in not pursuing such cases with the speed and accuracy that are required to punish the culprit(s) must imprisoned for five years.

Kharshiing is shell-shocked that not a single rape case out of the twenty-four rape cases reported between 2002-12 in fast track court in Jowai has resulted in conviction. She also is of the strong opinion that as Meghalaya now has its own high court; it should monitor the district council court from where the perpetrators of such crimes manage to get anticipatory bail.

A concern citizen of Shillong felt that the society must do lot of soul searching as rape of minor was not heard of twenty years ago in Meghalaya. He, however, lamented and said, “But now Meghalaya has turned itself into a rape state.”

A Jowai resident,  who has a five year old daughter,  said that she is scared of leaving her daughter to play all by herself after hearing of rape and molestation of children. She said, “There is low conviction rate and what we need are strong laws to put the fear of the devil in the mind of the criminal(s).”

And it is very disturbing to learn that if tribal rapes a minor tribal girl, then the case if forwarded to the district council court as both the victim and the perpetrator of the crime are tribal. Once the case goes to the district council court, it lingers on for year.- By Our Reporter