Meghalaya: Seven named in gangrape case chargesheet

Meghalaya police on Monday submitted chargessheet against seven of the total 16 accused in gangrape of an 18 -year-old girl at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district on December 13 last.

The victim, a student of a local high school in the outskirts of Williamnagar, was raped by a group of young men on December 13 when she was on her way back home after attending celebrations organised to observe a local festival called Simsang.

Sixteen persons were named in the FIR. Police arrested all of them. Out of the 16 accused nine turned out to be minors and sent to the juvenile home.

The seven adult accused, all between 18 and 22, who had been in custody facing charges of assault and rape, were named in the chargesheet filed by police before the district court in Williamnagar. Their accused have been identified as: Latson Marak, Tobath Sangma, Platon Marak, Rikrak Sangma, Chengchow Sangma, Kisen Marak and Chingkam Marak.

A police source said separate action would be taken under Juvenile Justice Act against the nine juvenile accused in the case.

Earlier, East Garo Hills district administration had provided Rs 25,000 as interim relief to the gangrape victim pending final judgement in the case.

On the fateful day, the victim was returning home along with two other girls from the Simsang festival when a group of young men accosted them and started teasing them with lewd remarks. While two of the girls ran away the men caught hold of the third girl, dragged her to a bush by the roadside, and assaulted and raped her.

Medical examination reports revealed that the culprits had also caused her injury with a knife.