Remove Julius from House committees

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, JULY 12: Women activists from different organizations including a political party today demanded immediate removal of jailed legislator Julius K Dorphang, who was accused of a raping a minor girl, from the two Assembly’s committees – citing the action as an intimidation to the victim.

The joint memorandum to the state Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal was submitted by the CSWO, TUR, KHNAM-State Youth Wing, NEN, HRLN, Impulse NGO Network and others to the Assembly’s Commissioner & Secretary Andrew Simon here on Wednesday.

This was following a notification issued recently which made the former chairman and founder of a Khasi rebel outfit as member of the Privilege Committee and the Subordinate Legislation Committee of the Legislative Assembly.

“We strongly demand the immediate removal of Dorphang from these committees and urge you to stand with citizens seeking justice in order to set the right precedence for the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly,” the activists said.

Also condemning the decision, they said such appointment of someone who is accused of raping a minor at a time when the chargesheet has been filed and the trial has just begun indicates an “arrogance of power” which is an intimidation to the victim child, the witnesses and even the investigating officials.

According to them, Dorphang has been booked under the POCSO Act, which specifies that an accused is guilty till proven innocent and that the burden of proof lies on the accused.

Moreover, they were also of the view that the POCSO has also specific provisions on more severe punishment to persons in public positions who sexually assault children under which Dorphang has been booked and for which he has been under judicial custody.

In light of these provisions, the activists reiterated that the nomination of rape-accused MLA is an affront to the spirit and letter of the POCSO Act, which seeks first and foremost to uphold the protection, safety and rights of children.

Further, they stated that such insensitive and ill conceived decisions  by public representatives who are sworn to uphold constitutional guarantees of safety and security for all citizens particularly women and children leads to a loss of faith in the system prompting citizens to take law into their own hands.

“Nomination of a child rape accused to the house committees send out the message that offenders and perpetrators will be accommodated normalizing further promoting such heinous crimes and a climate of impunity for criminals,” they said.

Lastly, the women activists added that the action not only demoralize women and children who have been victims of sexual crimes such as rape, trafficking, murder but is an insult to all women and children in the state as a whole.

It may be mentioned here, two FIRs was registered against him which were based on the statements made by the victim girl – who identified his photograph as one among the accused – one in Laitumkhrah police station while the other in Ri Bhoi District.

The sex racket came to light earlier this year after an employee of the guest house owned by senior Congress leader and Home Minister’s son was arrested after the victim was rescued near it.