Police promise to fast track gang rape charge-sheet

SHILLONG, DEC 21: The police have promised to file the charge-sheet in the East Garo Hills gang rape incident that shook the state within 10 days and suggested a speedy trial by a fast track court to bring the culprits to book.“The police under the supervision of the superintendent of police of East Garo Hills district are on the job to ensure that the charge-sheet is filed within 10 days. We are also asking for a trail by fast track court,” said Kulbir Kishan, the state director general of police (DGP).

An 18-year-old girl was raped by a group of 16 men in the East Garo Hills on December 13. The girl was on her way home along with her friends after attending the Simsang festival when she was cornered and gang raped. 15 out of the 16 alleged rapists have so far been arrested by the police.

“It’s really an unfortunate incident which suggests that our social norms are breaking down. It calls for soul searching such an incident is alien to Meghalaya and its culture,” said a concerned DGP .

The Meghalaya Mahila Congress Committee (MMCC) has demanded capital punishment for the rapists. “They should be given death sentence for such a heinous crime,” MMCC general secretary C Marbaniang said.

She, too, said the case must be taken up by a fast track court and the guilty meted out punishment at the earliest. (By Our Reporter)