Six children found in Rimpu Bagan, the farmhouse belonging to BJP vice president and Tura MDC, Bernard Marak, which was raided on July 22 by police, are being looked after by the authorities.
This was revealed after the Assembly’s committee for empowerment of women held a meeting with the Social Welfare Department here today to discuss the children’s status.
Police raided the farmhouse on suspicion that it was being used as a brothel and for other immoral purposes.
The committee aims to ensure that the children continue to live a normal life despite the unpleasant circumstances they found themselves in.
Committee chairperson Ampareen Lyngdoh informed reporters that one of the children is 3 years old, while the others are teenagers between 15 and 17.
Asked if these children were exposed to any sexual activities, Lyngdoh said, “The committee will not engage itself in the technical investigations of the case but we are concerned about the welfare and wellbeing of these children. We have no further information to share at this point.”
The children are being housed in observational homes in West Garo Hills.
Meanwhile, the committee also discussed other issues, like financial aid to the mother whose two children were murdered by their father in Nongrah, Shillong, at the end of May. Another issue concerned the murder of two women in East Jaiñtia Hills.
Lyngdoh informed that, in the case of the murders in East Jaiñtia Hills, the committee was devastated to learn that one of the victims was a mother to 10 children, eight of whom are minors.
A 2-year-old child of the deceased will be taken care of by the eldest sister. As for four of the children aged 6, 8, 11 and 13 the government will now be taking care of these children at institution homes or children’s homes.
The government will ensure that these children continue to receive education and are taken care of until they reach 18.
The other deceased woman has left behind two children aged between 8 and 12. They will now be taken care of by their grandmother.
Concerning the Nongrah double murder, the Social Welfare Department informed that Rs 5 lakh in total will be paid to the family as ex gratia.
The mother, however, is understandably still traumatised but trying to cope with her loss.
