Police in South West Khasi Hills have come under fire for allegedly trying to get a 16-year-old rape victim to change her story.
One suspect who was accused by the victim of raping her claimed to police that he was in fact the girl’s boyfriend. Police, according to a family member, then repeatedly tried to get the victim to admit this.
The delay in apprehending one of the suspects, Borshon Nongbri, has also been criticised. The heinous crime occurred on May 15 but it was only on May 30 that Nongbri was arrested. Another suspect, Respectful Nongtnger, is still absconding.
Yesterday, a family member of the victim told Highland Post that the teen had, on that fateful day, gone to fetch water from a nearby pond at around 5pm when two men who were drinking nearby pulled her into the adjacent forest. Nongbri allegedly raped the girl who fled when Nongtnger tried to do the same thing. Although the girl was pursued by the pair, she managed to evade them and phoned up her sister, who came to the rescue and alerted other family members.
The Rangbah Shnong, once apprised, informed the police and the victim was taken to Ranikor for a medical checkup.
Because no one was arrested in connection with the crime, a women’s group organised a rally and then went to Nonghyllam police station to press the authorities to act, which they finally did by arresting Nongbri from Kulang village on May 30, the victim’s cousin said.
The girl twice had to undergo an identity parade and she was able to pick out Nongbri on both occasions from among a dozen men. To do this she was taken by police from her village to Shillong, where Nongbri is being incarcerated.
Police, according to the girl’s cousin, then pressured her to change the story.
“The victim kept telling the police that she did not know the culprits, but the Sub-Inspector said that they will go through her phone and find out everything,” she said.
When contacted, Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson, Iamon Syiem, told HP that the police will be contacted for their version of events.
“We will call them (the police) because this is not done. The victim is already traumatized and we will find out the reality first and if we learn that there has been even one breach of conduct, they will be hauled up,” she assured.
Protection officers were rushed to the village by the commission and they reported that the girl has received counselling and that related expenses and compensation has also been given.
Syiem said that since the child has a supportive family and community support, she has remained with her family, otherwise the victim would have been taken to a shelter home.
“The commission will also keep following up with the police as to the status of the investigation,” Syiem added.
