Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 16
The findings of the Nagaland State Women Commission’s two inquiry committees, on rape and sexual crimes against women, have been submitted. The committees were set up earlier by the commission to investigate into the March 25 gang rape at Doragapathor, the April 1 rape of a minor girl in Dimapur and another minor at Zunheboto on April 11.
Recommendations for all the three cases made by the inquiry committees have now been sent to the state government, the chairperson of Nagaland Women Commission Sano Vamuzo informed.
On the basis of observations and information gathered by the inquiry committee, with regard to the Zunheboto rape case, it was recommended that bail should not be granted to the accused. The reason given was that the crime committed by the accused is ‘cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable’. The committee termed as ‘negligence of duty’ the part of the law-enforcing agency to have arrested the accused only on April 17, when the incident took place on April 11, of which subsequent FIR was lodged on April 14. The inquiry committee stated that the police should have arrested the accused and co-accused within 24 hours on receiving the complaint.
While also revealing that the IO who was assigned the said case is related to the accused, the inquiry committee said the judicial and police officers executing the rule of law should not be related to the accused.
Such a situation may result in the negation of justice, it said. “Extra-judicial actions like compromise deed, pressure from unwanted element or pressure from NGOs must not come in the way while delivering justice” it reminded. While pressing for punishment to the accused under appropriate sections of the law, proper compensation and proper rehabilitation was sought by the committee for the victim from the state government through Nagaland State Women Commission’s implementation.
The inquiry committee also felt the need of giving free hand to the judiciary, to deal with the crime as per the provision of the Indian Penal Code. “No threat, intimation, secret agreement or any other tactics be allowed to be entertained during trail and also government should be advised to give proper security to the judicial officials in the interest of justice” the committee stated. The Zunheboto case should be transferred to Kohima for proper execution of justice, the committee said. Prominent leaders in the position of GB’s, Church leaders and Town Counselors who tried to sabotage the rally organized by the STH (Women NGO) are also to be reprimanded against repeating such conduct in the future, it added.
In the case the Dimapur rape cases, the inquiry committee called for the investigating authorities to complete the probe at the earliest and ensure denial of bail to the offenders. The inquiry committee strongly felt the need for the state government to enact a special law for rape which would be more stringent that the prevalent law. The need to introduce a separate section for child rape, where punishment to be increased to life imprisonment, was also sought.
Apart from framing adequate compensation packages, medical facilities and medical counseling to the victim and families it asked for by the committee to rehabilitate the child-victim and also provide help for continuing education away from the place of incident.
In the case of the Darogapathor victim, it was stated that the state government must give appropriate employment along with a compensation package to help and rehabilitate her to have a stable future.
The committee also recommended that the state government establish specially designated courts to conduct trails for crimes and violence committed against women “in camera.” It was recommended that a number of judges should be suitably increased to ensure speedy disposal of cases. The inquiry committee also suggested for the state government to upgrade the existing women police cells into full-fledged women police stations and to open women police cells in all other districts as well. Strongly recommending that the women commission immediately set up a counseling centre at its office, the findings said they would help traumatized victims of violence. Similarly, the inquiry committee has sought immediate appointment of a professional lady counselor.
Taking into consideration the number of complaints and cases of crime against women in the state, the inquiry committee made recommendations to the NWC to have a full-time secretary and also to open a pre-litigation cell at the earliest to render legal assistance to victims of violence. A complaint and investigation cell by the NWC is called for. The NWC should take up a state-wide awareness enhancement camp on the legal rights of women, it added.
