Meghalaya SDO asked to submit report on abduction and torture of 12 girls

PTI
Shillong, May 10

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills in Meghalaya today directed the sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Dadenggre to submit the report of the ‘magisterial inquiry’ into the alleged kidnapping, torture and confining of 12 girls, including a six month-pregnant woman, recently by women activists within one month time.
“In view of the sensitivity of the situation, the SDO of Dadenggre Sibhi C Sadhu has been asked to head the magisterial inquiry and to submit the report within one month,” West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi said here.
Yesterday, five self-styled women activists were arrested for allegedly kidnapping, torturing and confining 12 girls for over a week on the pretext of counselling them.
The arrested were identified as Jaynie Ningring N. Sangma (37) who is also a member of the Civil Society Women Organization (CSWO), Babiana M. Sangma (42) of the A’chik Mother’s Union (AMU), Merryln D. Shira (52), Konica S. Sangma (37), and Lonavi R. Sangma (34).The young women were picked up from their residences by the group on the pretext that they were into illegal flesh trade in the district headquarters and hold up in the house.
The girls were later rescued from a place where they were held captive for the past eight days in a rented residence of Jaynie Ningring N Sangma, one of the accused persons, at Danakgre village, located a few km from the district headquarters.
According to the police, most of the victims bore injuries marks on their legs, thighs and also in their private parts and buttocks and medical reports indicated that the injuries are serious in nature.
Police have registered cases under relevant sections related to kidnapping, abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully confine a person, for putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, criminal intimidation and others.
The five activists were remanded to 14 days police custody by a local court.
Stating that the registration of the involved NGOs will be revoked in view of the cases against them, Bakshi also informed that A’chik Mother’s Association stands dissolved due to mass resignation of most of its members.
Earlier, the activists, however, claimed that deputy commissioner, Pravin Bakshi had authorized them to conduct raid and arrest.
Reacting to this, the DC reiterated that the allegation was totally baseless and said, “It is very strongly asserted that all breaches of law are immediately acted upon no matter who is the culprit.”
According to the DC, the NGOs were prevented from undertaking raids by him as soon it was brought to his notice that they were planning to raid places on suspicion of sex racket.