SHILLONG, MAR 28: Alleging that a sitting minister’s relative is also involved in the gang-rape of the 16-year old Garo tribal school girl in the Williamnagar rape that took place in December 13 last year, former Rajya Sabha MP Robert Kharshiing, has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Altamas Kabir requesting him to issue a showcause notice against the Meghalaya government for the inordinate delay in following up the case and punishing the guilty.
Kharshiing, who is also the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentarians & Professionals Forum and life member of the Indian Parliamentary Group, Lok Sabha, faxed the PIL to the CJI on Thursday asking him to intervene and ensure that justice is done to the victim and her family.
Without naming, Kharshiing alleged that one of the sixteen rapists who gang-raped the girl in Williamnagar on the night of December 13 while she was returning from the Simsang festival is related to a sitting minister. He suspected that the case is not heading anywhere because the police and government are not interested in ensuring the punishment of the rapists as a relative of the minister is also involved.
Kharshiing also informed the CJI that the parents of the rape victim are instead being threatened by surrendered militants to keep quiet.
In the PIL Kharshiing says, “Even after 100 days following this horrific incident, the abused girl and her parents are still suffering from victimization with the State Government taking a very callous and uncaring attitude towards both the girl and her parents.”
Kharshhing revealed to the CJI that now it has reached a situation where the parents of the child do not know where the girl is while the state government claims that they have hidden her in a school.
Quoting statistic, Kharshiing claims that in the past decade, Meghalaya has seen over 830 rape cases, 500 of which are still pending trial in various courts. He said contrary to the popular belief that women have greater control over their lives in matrilineal societies such as in Meghalaya, the condition of women seems to be no different here from the rest of the country.
Giving number on violence against women, Khrashiing said 830 rape cases between 2002 and 2012 should have shaken the conscience of the political parties and the administration in Meghalaya and forced them to act.
However, Kharshiing rues that the conviction rate remains awfully low, compensation is hardly awarded and there are only three fast track courts dealing with rape cases — one each in the Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills and East Khasi Hills districts. In the Garo Hills alone, which does not have a single fast track court, 23 rape cases, including two gangrape cases, have been pending for over a decade, he said.
Drawing the attention of the CJI to the recent arrest of the Civil Society Women’s Organisation president Agnes Kharshiing, who is his sister, Kharshiing said that she was arrested on flimsy sections filed against her like trespassing, forceful entry of the Secretariat etc (Sections 353, 447 and 180 of IPC) when she was actually trying to help the mother of a rape victim to get justice for her daughter.
Urging the CJI to issue show cause to the Meghalaya government and the Meghalaya police Kharshiing also suggested that the following queries should be asked to them:
1. In the light of the outrage and intense sentiments across the country on rape and rising crimes against women, why is such a horrific case not being heard on a day to day basis as suggested by the former DGP of Meghalaya, Shri Kulbir Krishan, IPS?
2. Was Shri Kulbir Krishan, IPS summarily transferred as DGP because he dared to make such a suggestion when it is known that one of the rapists is a relative of a Minister?
3. What is the current status of the case regarding the rape of the 16 year old that took place on 13 December 2013?
4. Why are the parents not being allowed to speak to the girl or to meet her?
5. Why was the leading women activist, Smt. Agnes Kharshiing who has been at the forefront in seeking justice for this poor 16 year old Garo tribal girl arrested on such flimsy grounds and why has the cases against her not been withdrawn immediately?
6. In the light of the stringent Anti-Rape Law passed in Parliament, what action has been taken against the police officers, State Officials or politicians involved in the hushing up of the Rape of the 16 year old girl and why should not they be summoned to appear before the Supreme Court?
7. Similarly what action has been taken against the police officers, State Officials or politicians who instead of assisting the Rape Victim’s mother as required by the new Anti-Rape Law passed by Parliament were involved in the filing of FIR and subsequent arrest of the leading Women’s Activist and whistleblower Smt. Agnes Kharshiing, President, Civil Society Women’s Organisation on 26 March 2013 and why should not the politicians, State Officials and police officers involved so involved not be summoned to appear before the Supreme Court?
8. What are the specific steps being taken by the Government to stop crimes against women?
9. Why are the NGOs taking up such causes harassed instead of supported by the State Government?
10. In the light of constant threats and intimidation by surrendered militants, what is the security being provided for the rape victim, her parents and the leading women activists who are taking up her cause? : – By Our Reporter
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