Police resort to blank firing as protestors demand the accused to be handed to them
Our correspondent
Mokokchung | June 13
In a shameful and appalling incident, a sexagenarian, aged 68, who was arrested by Mokokchung Police after he was accused of allegedly raping a minor girl of 12 years, has been remanded to judicial custody. The victim was staying at the house of the daughter of the accused. A sexagenarian is a person who is between 60 and 69 years old.
According to a public statement from Eastern Naga Women Organization Mokokchung (ENWOM), the accused, identified as one Alemchiba allegedly assaulted the victim sexually on June 4 and June 8 and “warned her against revealing the act to anyone.”
Following the incident and the subsequent arrest, hundreds of protestors, including women gathered at the Mokokchung Police Station-1 on Monday demanding that the accused be handed over to them.
As the situation began to go out of hand, the police were forced to resort to blank firing and riot control to bring the situation under control.
In memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung, ENWOM, Eastern Naga People Union Mokokchung (ENPUM) and Eastern Naga Students Union Mokokchung (ENSUM) demanded that the alleged rapist be booked under IPC and award severe punishment as per the law.
While demanding that the accused should not be granted bail, the ENWOM cautioned that if the rapist is bailed out without their knowledge by any individual party, they will take their own course of action.
Also urging the district administration and law-enforcing agency to ensure the safety of women folks, it demanded the district administration to see to it that due compensation is given to the victim.
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mokokchung gave assurance that severe action against the accused will be taken as per the law of the land after a fair trial. He also assured all help to the victim.
In the evening DC called a meeting with leaders of different organizations in Mokokchung to discuss on the situation arising out of the rape incident.
All concerned leaders agreed to cooperate with the district administration to deliver justice to the victim and punishing the culprit as per the law, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Nagaland College Students’ Union (ENCSU) voiced support to the memorandum submitted by ENPUM, ENWOM and ENSUM submitted to Deputy Commissioner.
“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,” read a press note issued by ENCSU to the media.
Further, the Union also cautioned all concerned keeping Eastern people as domestic helper, to be more alert and responsible in order to avoid such incident.
“If the Union receives any complaints, strict action would be taken against the defaulters,” it cautioned.
