Mokokchung, June 13 : Mokokchung town’s police station on Monday hosted chaos when security personnel charged at more than hundreds of protestors from various organizations representing the eastern districts who were demonstrating and demanding to ‘show the face’ of the alleged rapist who allegedly raped a minor girl.
The 68 years old accused, Alemchiba, from Khensa village under said district, was charged with raping a 12-year old minor girl, said to be from the Konyak community, on June 4 and the 8th. He was arrested by the police on June 11.
The girl was said to have been staying at the house of a daughter of the accused. The alleged victim was reportedly raped on June 4 in the kitchen of the accused and again on June 8 at a farm of the accused.
On Monday, the police resorted to ‘lathi-charge’ following high emotions when the police refused the demand of the protestors. Eyewitnesses said that the angry mob started pelting stones at the police personnel and tried to storm the police station. However, the police controlled the situation by resorting to dispersing the mob with batons and firing blank rounds in the air. ‘When the leaders conveyed our reply to the mob that it (demand) was not possible, the situation suddenly flared.
To control the mob, the police had no option but to resort to lathi charge… few blank rounds were fired to disperse the mob,” the SDPO of Mokokchung Police, Imnalensa, said.
He added that the police have also arrested five persons which were released later on. A few vehicles in the premises of the police station were partially damaged by stones pelted by the mob.
In connection with the case, the Eastern Naga Women Organization in Mokokchung has served a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of the district.
Also, the Watsü Mungdang has strongly condemned the alleged rape. A note from the Watsü Mungdang on Monday demanded that authorities in concern award befitting punishment to the accused at the earliest.
“The Watsü Mungdang is in full support of the demand of the Eastern Naga Women Organization and further appeal the administrator, council and the enforcing agency to ensure the safety of the women in general,” the note added.
The Eastern Nagaland Women Organization of Mokokchung said in a representation, a copy of which was made available to the media on Monday, that the girl was staying at the house of a daughter of the accused. “...but on the fated day 4th June 2016, the victim went to the culprit’s house for some work but she was raped in the kitchen. After some few days, on June 08 2016 the girls was raped again by Mr. Alemchiba in his farm and warned her not reveal the incident to anyone,” the representation stated.
“Therefore, the ENWOM, ENPUM, ENSUM, KNSK, KU and KSS strongly condemn the sexual assault of the minor girls by Mr. Alemchiba of Khensa village. Such an ‘unimaginable and shameful act’ should be condemned by one and all. We also urge the competent authority to expedite the case with transparency and award stringent punishment to the culprit,” it added.
The Eastern Nagaland College Students' Union (ENCSU) has also denounced the alleged crime. A note from the organization issued to the media on Monday demanded “immediate action from the administration to the culprit without any partiality.”
“The law shouldn't be only on the white paper but it should be implemented strongly so that such kind of uncivilized act will not repeat again in the future,” the press release stated.
The ENCSU also supported the memorandum submitted by the Eastern Naga People Union, Eastern Naga Women Organization and Eastern Naga Students’ Union, all of Mokokchung, to the administration.
The district administration is urged to “act sincerely on the issue and not to bail the culprit whatsoever.”
“We are living in a civilized society and such kind of uncivilized act should not be tolerate by any individual or group therefore we appeal all the responsible citizens to come forward and join hand together to seek justice for the victim,” the union stated.
The students also cautioned “all the responsible person who has any eastern people as a domestic helper, to be more alert and responsible so as to avoid such incident and if any complaints are receive by the union from anyone than the union will take strict action against the defaulter.”
The ENCSU said it would “see if the helpers are treated well and whether they are given the right opportunity and privilege as promised by the owner before they took the helper from their parents/home.”
