Rape: Furious Mongsenyimti puts foot down; demands stringent penalty

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, June 11 (EMN): The alleged rape of a five-year old girl in Mokokchung town on Sunday morning sparked widespread protests by members of the Mongsenyimti Senso Telongjem Mokokchung Town (MSTMT) on June 11. The minor was allegedly raped by a 19-year old youth identified as a Limatoshi, of Longsa village. He is currently in judicial custody.
Members of the community organisation took the streets in resentment. After a short meeting at Sungkomen ward the protesters started for the offices of Mokokchung’s deputy commissioner and superintendent of police (SP).
Officials of the MSTMT submitted a memorandum to the administration and to the police. When the protesters reached the SP’s office the crowd became unruly. They started demanding that the alleged rapist be handed over to them. Quick intervention from the MSTMT officials and additional SP Relo T Aye defused the situation.
The organisation’s memorandum, a copy of which was made available to media persons, contained five demands. The memorandum was appended by the group’s president S Ramok Ozukum and Secretary M Ladong Ozukum.
The letter stated that the accused should not be allowed bail and that the medical condition of the accused should not be made a reason for the court or administration to grant bail.
Also, the statement demanded that the authorities compensate the victim immediately, and entitle to the victim and her family the means to meet medical expenditure.
Further, the organisation demanded that there should be no discrepancy and delay from the authorities in pronouncing the full conviction of the accused.
The statement cautioned: “Any delay and / or untoward measures and steps be taken so as to deny justice to the victim and her family and to the citizen at large we will take law in our own hand and you and the accused will be held responsible at all cost.”
The apex women organization of Ao women, Watsu Mungdang, also submitted a memorandum to the Mokokchung deputy commissioner. The organisation demanded that the accused should be given the ‘highest’ form of punishment and that the victim be given adequate compensation immediately. It cautioned that failure to take action would leave the Watsu Mungdang no alternative but to take an own course of action.
Another organisation, the Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) has vehemently condemned the alleged rape.
The group stated in a press release to the media on Monday that it was “totally shocked and disgusted at the abominable act of the culprit.” It demanded the ‘most stringent of punishments’ for the culprit.
Appreciating Mongsenbai ward for apprehending the culprit and handing him over to the police, the MTLT also acknowledged the police for taking prompt action.
The MTLT has pointed to provisions in the Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance of 2018, which made amendments in the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Indian Evidence Act, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
“It stipulates that, among many, the Investigation in rape cases to be completed within two months; that ‘no anticipatory bail can be granted to a person accused of rape of girls of age less than sixteen years’; and ‘minimum punishment of 20 years rigorous imprisonment and maximum death penalty / life Imprisonment for committing rape on a girl aged below 12,” the organisation stated.
The organisation has cautioned law enforcing agencies to leave no stone unturned when investigating the case. “Any lapses while this case is being pursued and investigated will be viewed seriously and any unwanted fallout because of such lapses would be the sole responsibility of the law enforcing agencies,” it stated.