- · One Sharafat Ali, 32, accused of crime
- · Youths initially refuse to hand over accused
- · Organization warns against granting bail
- · State govt told to note increasing crimes by non-locals
- · ‘Strong political will needed to check influx’
A local organization in Kohima district has alleged rape of a
mentally-challenged woman by a door-to-door salesman, one Sharafat Ali, on June
9 in Nerhema village. Nerhema is small village located in Chiephobozou circle
of Kohima district.
An organization calling itself the ‘Nerhemiapfii Krotho’
(Nerhem women organization) issued a press release on Friday,
June 12, alleging that the 32-years old Sharafat Ali barged into the house of
the women – unidentified in the press release–and allegedly committed the
crime. The woman is said to be an ‘adivasi’ (in the context of Nagaland, a
non-Naga tribal person).
Ali is said to have attempted to escape when he was spotted
by neighbors of the women. The accused is in police custody after some tensions
with the youth of the area, it is understood.
“Through this press release, the Nerhemiapfii Krotho states
its condemnation in strongest terms the rape of a mentally challenged Adivasi
Housewife at Nerhema village by a door to door salesman from Kohima town,” the organization
stated.
“The inhuman crime was committed on 9th June around 9:45 AM
when most of the villagers had gone to their fields. The culprit Sharafat Ali
Aged 32 years reportedly went around targeting womenfolk and on realizing that
there were not many men around, followed the victim, barged into her house
locked her in and committed the heinous crime,” Nerhemiapfii Krotho stated.
According to the organization, the accused was spotted by
neighbors following which Ali tried to escape but was caught by the villagers.
It was informed that the youths of the area protested and refused
to hand over the culprit. Later, the police personnel of Chiephobozou police station
took the person accused in custody.
The Nerhemiapfii Krotho has urged the police to note that
the alleged victim was mentally-challenged and that “the culprit barged into
the victim’s house uninvited which amounts to capital punishment according to
customary law of the Nagas”.
Cry to Nagaland government continues
The usual call to an apathetic Nagaland government continues.
Recalling recent incidents and the increasing trend of non-locals committing
crime against women in Nagaland, the Nerhemiapfii Krotho has asked the state government
to “implement stricter measures to check infiltration of non-locals into the
State.
“The Krotho also cautions the public to be wary of such
predators to avoid any traumatic incidents in the future,” the organization stated.
The women organization has assured the victim’s family of
all support ‘till justice is delivered’. The community has warned that any
attempt by individuals or organizations to bail out the accused “shall be doing
so at their own risk”.
The ‘most stringent punishment’ is sought by the women against
the alleged rapist ‘befitting the multiple crime committed’ without delay.
(Report filed from Dimapur, Nagaland, June 12, 2015)
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