Shillong, January 11: The People’s Rally called by TUR and CSWO to protest against the increasing trend of human trafficking in the state has taken a unanimous decision to demand the immediate regsination of Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh in order to ensure an independent inquire into the trafficking of a 14 year old minor girl, since the Marvellene Inn was run by this family.
The CSWO President Smti Agnes Kharshiing in her address in the rally said that, the Home Minister should be removed or resign from his position as the guest house Marvelene Inn is owned by his immediate family and also due to the fact that the Inn was the place where the minor girl was trafficked and assaulted twice.
The Rally which started from Fire Brigade and culminated at Additional Secretariat witnessed huge presence of security personal. The rally was participated by people from all walks of life right from Person with Disability (PWD), NGOs, public representatives too.
Hundreds people marched towards the Additional Secretariat parking lot from Fire Brigade holding placards and showing slogans condemning the recent rape and trafficking cases in the state while also shouted slogan demand for the Home Minister’s resignation.
The rally has also taken a resolution to demand from the state government that all guest houses and hotels be it private or government named by the victim as places where she was taken to should immediately be shut down pending inquire and licences revoked and owners booked and blacklisted when implicated. NOC issued by any authority should be revoked.
Before the rally ended member of TUR Smti Angela Rangad said that they submit a 9 point of demand in the form of memorandum to the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma since the state is horrified of the recent incidents of trafficking and sexual assaults on minors involving elected representatives and other influential people.
The people gathered at Additional Secretariat parking lot unanimously shouted ‘YES’ when a questioned was raised by Rangad whether they agree or not with the demand calling for the resignation of the Home Minister to facilitate a clean investigation into the case.
The rally in the memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister also demanded that POCSO Act 2102 along with the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013 should be properly invoked to ensure that investigations are carried out in a time bound manner as prescribe by law, setting up of fast track courts and special courts in all the district of the state.
They demand also that the government to immediately notify Internal Complaints Committee with the deputy commissioner office in all the district, under the Sexual Harassment Act. “A 24×7 hotline no. should be immediately set up with the state commission for protection of child rights where complaints on trafficking and sexual exploitations of minors can be lodged,” she said.
Smti Theilin Phanbuh Chairperson Meghalaya State Commission for Women said, it is very sad to see that he Mr Julius Dorphang as a lawmaker is breaking the very same law and this type of people involved in this crime the law should take strong action. She also observed that the judicial system is feeble, she said, the Commission has written countless times to the state government to immediately set up fast track courts to ensure speedy judgement.
