By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, JAN 11: The streets of Shillong reverberated with the demand for immediate removal of the home minister HDR Lyngdoh as the people attending the public rally to protest rising crimes against women and children were of one voice asking chief minister to drop his cabinet colleague.
Ngos also threatened to upped their agitations if Sangma fails to listened to the voice of the people and sack Lyngdoh. The home minister got sucked into a sex exploitation case when it was found that his son’s guest house was used it for sexually abused a 14-year-old girl by people.
The minor girl was rescued by the police..
Nine persons have so far been arrested and booked under POCSO Act which includes an Independent legislator Julius Dorphang who supports the ruling Congress government.
Hundreds of people from different walks of life came out to participate in the public rally sponsored by the Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) and Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO).
Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) on their wheels were also seen leading from the front during the procession which started from Fire Brigade and culminated at the parking lot near the Additional Secretariat.
The rally also saw the participation of chairperson of Meghalaya State Women’s Commission (MSWC), members of a political party, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU).
After a meeting where speakers condemned the incidents of crimes, especially against minor girls in the state, a joint memorandum was submitted to the chief minister for his necessary intervention.
Earlier highlighting the nine-point demands, TUR leader Angela Rangad said, “You should seek immediate resignation of your home minister HDR Lyngdoh to ensure an independent enquiry into this case as the guest house owned by his immediate family was the place where the minor girl was trafficked and assaulted twice.”
“We also demanded that all guest houses and hotels named by the victim as places where she was exploited should be immediately shut down pending inquiry and licenses revoked and owners booked and blacklisted when implicated NOCs issued by any authority should be revoked,” she said.
She added, mandatory guidelines and laws regarding safety and security protocol to be followed by all hotels, guest houses, bed/breakfast and home stays should be immediately notified.
She said, POCSO Act 2012 along with the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013 should be properly invoked to ensure that investigations are carried out in a time bound manner as prescribed by law and that anyone interfering with the course of investigation and justice should be made liable be it police or others.
They have also demanded the government immediately set up fast track/special courts in all the districts of the state to ensure speedy and time-bound justice to the victims of violence and trafficking.
“Government should immediately notify Internal Complaints Committee/ Local Complaints Committee in all offices and districts under the Sexual Harassment Act,” Rangad said while quoting the memorandum to the CM.
She said that the government should actively create awareness at all levels including schools and colleges and traditional institutions regarding laws on sexual violence and rights of the victims.
Besides, tourism and skill development policies of the state that encourages and drives persons towards engaging in activities aimed at sexual exploitation and abuse should be reviewed.
The other demand includes setting up of a 24X7 hotline number with the state commission for protection of child rights where complaints on trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors can be lodged.
The placard displayed during the rally sent a strong messages too – “Rape and human trafficking is a crime against society”, “power politics will not be tolerated when it comes to crimes,” “In unity we get stronger to fight sexual slavery,” “Trafficking of a child is a grave human right violation” “enough is enough we will tolerate no more”.
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