A woman who has been on the receiving end of harassment by village authorities has received police protection.
The incident dates to January 24. The Dorbar Shnong of Pathardaro, in a dispute with Regina Marbaniang, who lives there, tore up her crops, cut down trees and uprooted water pipes fixed to deliver drinking water to her residence under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police ordered the Patharkhmah police outpost to carry out patrolling every night in the area where Marbaniang lives.
The Deputy Commissioner has also ordered the official concerned to reconnect the women’s water supply.
“They had gone without water for many weeks. Those people broke their water lines and blocked the pipes with wood. Now finally restored. No one is disturbing them till now,” a source in the Meghalaya State Commission for Women informed.
Marbaniang had filed an FIR with Patharkhmah police in April regarding the treatment she had received. Police investigated the case and took videos of the cut trees scattered on her fields and her destroyed crops but the perpetrators were not reined in. Instead, she and members of the Dorbar were reportedly made to sign a bond to keep the peace.
The Women’s Commission source said that Marbaniang has submitted an additional FIR and that the officer in charge was not pleased with her actions.
