Rape accused surrenders, heads arrested

By Our Reporter  

SHILLONG, JAN 6:  A headman and sordar of a village were arrested for allegedly facilitating a “compromise” in the recent gang-rape case of a minor girl even as the six accused surrendered before a local court.

“Police have arrested the Sordar (village chief) of Mawrynkneng village Peter J Lawai and the Rangbah Dong (locality head) of Mawmang Goldenstar Mukhim this morning,” Superintendent of Police (City) Vivek Syiem told reporters on Friday.

Lawai is also the heading the breakaway faction of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU)  the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) as the president of the central body.

Both have been booked under the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

“They (traditional heads) are liable for abetment for their role in trying to facilitate a compromise in such a heinous crime which is against the POCSO Act,” Syiem said.

Syiem added that it unfortunate that two traditional heads wanted to bring about a compromise by luring with money for paying to the victim’s family by the victim’s family.”

The arrest of the two came after a relative of the victim strongly demanded action against the duos.

They have taken serious offence on the failure of these traditional heads to handover the accused when they appeared before the dorbar meeting convened twice on the nights of January 2 and January 3.

The gang rape took place at 9 pm at Mawmang locality of Mawryngkneng village on January 1 when the girl was returning home from her aunt’s place after having New Year dinner.

Following the arrest of the two traditional heads, the six accused also surrendered before a local court after a manhunt was conducted and lookout notice was issued by the police.

The accused  have been identified as Sanlang Kharlukhi, Rimon Surong, Requestor Mukhim, Shan Dkhar, Sanbhalang Mawthoh and Banlumlang Rynjah.

Syiem informed that the rape accused have surrendered before the court which has remanded them to 14 days judicial custody but, he added, the police are going to ask for police custody as the case is heinous in nature.