TURA, July 29 - In one of the most horrendous cases of rape in Garo Hills, 10 men took turns raping a 13-year- old mentally challenged minor girl over a period of two months even as village elders tried to attempt a compromise.
The shocking incident came to light after an FIR was filed by the family of the victim yesterday at Resubelpara police station. Police today arrested nine of the accused while one was away from the village when the police laid a raid.
The rapes took place between June and July with the family only coming to know of it after village elders called them for a meeting. Two of the accused are said to be minors, while most of the others being married and belonging to Haluapara village under Resubelpara PS.
�It seems they took turns in raping the girl at various times and at various locations in the village. One of the witnesses to the crime is the wife of one of the accused. She informed the village of the matter after which the matter came to be known. The accused have even confessed to their crime in the meeting held at the village,� said Circle Inspector of Resubelpara PS, GK Sangma.
According to locals, once the matter became public, the village heads called a meeting on July 25 to try and seek a compromise. However, the family did not relent and filed an FIR.
�The villagers also need to be docked for their role in trying to hide this heinous crime committed against a 13 year-old. There cannot be a compromise for what the culprits have done and for attempting to do so, the elders should be taken to task for trying to circumvent the law,� said social activist, Dardy GC Marak.
The ten accused have been identified as Mithilson Marak (54), Leolin Momin (61), Jangsin Marak (60), Pullarson Marak (48), Becky Sangma (41), Raju Sangma (35), Raju Marak (32) and Prethinson Sangma. Two others named in the FIR are allegedly minors while Prethison was missing from the village.
