Tura, May 9: Meghalaya police today arrested five self-styled activists in connection with illegal confinement, kidnapping and torture of twelve teenagers. They were produced in the session court this evening and sent for 14 days judicial custody. The teenagers were held captive for eight day by the ‘activists’ in the rented residence of Jaynie Ningring N. Sangma at Danakgre, in the outskirt of Tura town.
The teenagers were picked up from their residence on the pretext that they were into “illegal sex trade”. West Garo Hills SP, Mukesh Singh said, “We have taken up a suo moto case based on the statement of the 12 victims. It is a seriousviolation of the law. We will take best legal recourse to give justice to the victims”.
The five accused are – Jaynie Ningring N. Sangma (37), Babiana M. Sangma (42), Merryln D. Shira (52), Konica S. Sangma (37), and Lonavi R. Sangma (34). The victims were rescued by locals yesterday late evening and brought to the police station for safe custody, when one of the victim’s relative raised commotion visiting the rented residence of Jaynie Ningring N. Sangma, where the teenage girls were held captive.
Tura Police Women cell recorded the statement of the victims today, wherein they have mentioned the inhumane torture meted to them in the past eight days. Singh said, “The injuries are serious in nature according to medical report”. The victims have bruise marks on their lower private parts, buttocks and legs.
Police have registered case under section 365 (kidnapping, abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person), 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 343 (wrongful confinement for three days, or more), 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) and 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons).
The activists are claiming that deputy commissioner, Pravin Bakshi have authorized them to conduct raid and arrest. However, Bakshi has said, “I have only asked them to provide information to the police and accompany while the raids are being conducted”. The activists had approached Bakshi on Sunday.
SP Mukesh Singh said, “The activists have never approached us. We have no written or verbal information. We will go as per the law. They have never given us any complaint whatsoever. It is a strong case of crime against women”. On the context of sex racket, Singh said, “If during the course of investigation, it is found out, we will deal with the matter accordingly”. He also said, “It is not the duty of the NGO or activists to conducted raids, it is beyond their power”.
“If somebody is creating nuisance in public place, they can be arrested by police only. The victims were not caught in the act”, he added.
In this particular case, the victims have confessed that they were picked up from their residence, in presence of their parents. Out of 12, five were picked up from Chasingre by the activists on Sunday, when they were returning from Williamnagar after attending a farewell party of their college. They were taken to the police station, the man who was accompanying them was kept in custody for 24 hours and released, as no complaint was filed against him. The activists had taken the five girls along with them on the pretext of giving them counseling, saying ,that they have the approval of their parents.
One of the victims, who is six months pregnant said, “I was picked up by the NGOs saying that DC has authorized them to take us in their custody. They have assaulted me and said that they will keep my baby with them”. She even said, “If we try to run away from their captivity, they will ask the GNLA militants to kill us. It seems they have sent our pictures to them”.
The activists are claiming that they wanted to reform the girls, who were into illegal trade and provide them rehabilitation, as per DC’s recommendation. To which, deputy commissioner Bakshi has said, “I have never given them such order. They said that they want to take the girls for counseling under pastor’s guidance”. “We will do a thorough investigation into this case. The statement of the victims will be scrutinized and the enquiry by the police is a
must”.(SP News)
