SHILLONG, JULY 11: Meghalaya State Women Commission (MSWC) inquiry report on the assault on the 12 girls in Garo hills, who were branded as “sex workers” by women activists in Tura, said the incident is nothing but a harsh case of “moral policing” and “vigilantism” disregarding the law.
Quoting the report, MSWC chairperson Theilin Phanbuh said, “It is very much a stark case of moral policing and vigilantism disregarding the law and duping the administration, police and public besides violating against human rights.”
The report was submitted to the state government for necessary action.
The inquiry report, however, could not ascertain whether the girls were into sex trade.
Five women activists had been arrested for allegedly kidnapping, torture and confining the twelve girls for over a week on the pretext of counseling them.
The women activists were from three NGOs – Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO), A’chik Mothers’ Association (AMA) and Garo Hills Sentinel for Human Rights (GHSHR).
The arrested were identified as Jaynie Ningring N. Sangma (37) who is also a member of the Civil Society Women Organization (CSWO), Babiana M. Sangma (42) of the A’chik Mother’s Union (AMU), Merryln D. Shira (52), Konica S. Sangma (37), and Lonavi R. Sangma (34).
As per the inquiry report, the twelve victims were reportedly picked up from the vehicles on the road at Chasingre, Orchid Lodge at Asanang and from their respective homes at different intervals and dates. The girls were kept at Jaynie’s rented house at Daldagre locality of Tura from May 1 to May 8.
The inquiry committee headed by the MSWC vice chairperson Kamchi Marak had examine at least 44 witnesses including the 12 girls.
The report said, “Many witnesses have confirmed the tortures, including physical assault, verbal assault, intimidation and public viewing and humiliation of victims as sex workers, also allowing of taking pictures, videos of the beatings, uploading of the same in the social media, threat to life and, of one of the girls being pregnant,” adding “One girl was so intimidated that she was even contemplating to commit suicide but fortunately the girls were rescued before anything could happen.”
The report also said that the deputy commissioner had an inkling of what was happening but was not aware that Jaynie and other activists were detaining the girls and keeping them confined as it was thought that women activists were counseling the girls. The report said, “One of the media persons reportedly coordinated and acted as a go-between the administration and the NGOs in the matter of premeditating busting of the alleged sex racket.”
The inquiry committee further stated that the administration viewed the ngos at face value and took the matter lightly without verifying their antecedents.
The report also informed that the media seems to have called all the shots and was reluctant to inform the police adding the deputy commissioner had also suggested to the media person to coordinate with the police during the raid, which the latter had failed to do so and this reflects the lack of coordination between the administration and the police.
Stating that church is also found to be too trusting and ignorant of women’s legislations and related laws, Marak in her report said, “The church members called to give counseling were not given full information about the beatings such as the torture in order to extract information, all of which continued even as the spiritual counseling were taking place.”
In the report Marak said, “From the statement of all the victims it is clear that they were illegally detained, confined and tortured, both physically and mentally and also threatened with dire consequences taking the names of militant groups including Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).
Pointing out that from the overall observations it was found that the so called tortures were made at the ngo’s member house and not in the police station, the vice chairperson said, “Even the doctor stated that the bruises appearing on some of the girls bodies were not fresh bruises as the victims were sent for medical checkup on May 8, itself.”
Stating that the ngos had nexus with some police personnel and reportedly worked together, Marak however said, the SP is found to be unaware of the happenings as the subordinates had failed to report the matter to their higher ups.
According to Marak, the policeman in question has failed to go by the rules and acted on emotions without verifying the claims of the ngos.
“It is noted that the inspector concerned had not even called the women police or taken the girls to the Women’s cell of the police station, but instead informed the ngos and handed the girls over to them, which is highly illegal and unfounded,” Marak said adding “His (policeman) failure to act as per law has complicated the whole situation.”
Marak informed that the police, in the course of performing or conducting their official duties, need to be more sensitive and verify each case thoroughly before jumping to conclusions, to avoid harassment to many innocent people.
Marak also revealed that the statement of the deputy commissioner, SP and some important witnesses and especially the one who had been victim himself, many illegal activities are openly taking place in the prison, whereby the prisoners have easy access to mobile phones and interact with the outside world, prisoners are beaten up inside the jail premises, but the jail authorities have not been serious enough to communicate this to their higher authorities in order to correct the system for the safety of the prisoners in general.
Marak’s report viewed these lacunae with serious concern.
Based on the inquiry report the women’s commission has also submitted a number of recommendations to the state government including the need to immediately set up shelter home on rent, to avoid vested interests taking advantage of the lack of shelter home in the district while constructing a permanent shelter home.- By Our Reporter
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