Shillong continues to mourn Damini death as demand for stringent rape law swells

SHILLONG, DEC 30: Signature campaign, candle light vigil and demand for stringent punishment for the rapists of the twenty-three years old Delhi medical student Damini who succumbed on Saturday continues to pour in Shillong as the Shillong chapter of the Art of Living organized a protest against the rape and the Meghalaya Mahila Pradesh Committee (MMPCC) convened an emergency meeting to condemn and demand stringent law.

Hundreds of people came out even on the wintry Sunday to take part in the candle light vigil and signature campaign organized by the Shillong chapter of the Arts of Living in Khyndailad-Police Bazar-to demand stringent punishment to the rapists of Damini. Holding placards and candles women, children and men poured out to show solidarity in the demand of all concern citizens across the country for a stronger law to punish rapists.

The MMPC also convened a meeting on Sunday to condole the death of Damini and held two minutes silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul. MMPC vice president Havergal E Bareh said,   “We demand law against rape be strengthen.”  Condemning the barbaric rape,  she urged the government to ensure that the case against the rapists is taken seriously coupled with  speedy investigation, trial and maximum possible punishment.

The MMPCC is the latest to join in the chorus for a stringent law to deal with rapist(s) in the country. Earlier many organizations in Meghalaya that includes the Civil Society Women Organisation (CSWO) had expressed its concern over the rising rape cases in Meghalaya and also demanded a stringent law to deal with criminals who rapes and indulge in violence against women.

Before Damini was raped in Delhi, an eighteen year old school girl was gang-raped by eighteen men in Williamnagar in East Garo hills when she was returning home after having attended the Simsang festival. All the men have been arrested, but it was later found that of the sixteen men, 9 of them were minors.

The gang-rape of the school girl in Garo hills had already shocked concern citizens in Meghalaya and then the Delhi gang-raped and subsequent death of Damini added to the already burgeoning fear that women are not safe in any parts of India. It is this concern that made different organizations to come out on the streets on Saturday and join the nation not only in mourning the death of Damini but also demanding a law that would put fear of the devil in potential rapists and criminals.- By Our Reporter