Shillong, July 22:
Brief
– Williamnagar Civil Hospital doctor had denied treatment to a minor’s gang-rape victim citing jurisdiction issues
– Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla says Jurisdiction has never been an issue when it comes to medical treatment
– Ampareen Lyngdoh assures to seriously inquire the incident
– Various social organizations are demanding action against the erring doctor for denying treat to the rape victim
Full Report
Meghalaya government has taken a strong exception to the actions of a doctor in Williamnagar Civil Hospital in East Garo Hills who refuse to treat a minor gang-rape victim, citing jurisdiction issues.
Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla said, “Jurisdiction has never been an issue when it comes to medical treatment. We would take up the doctor’s issue with the Health Department.”
He added that the concerned officials have been asked to collect detailed information about the incident.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA and Meghalaya Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment (MACWE) chairperson, Ampareen Lyngdoh said the panel would seriously inquire why the victim was refused medical care in the Williamnagar Civil Hospital.
“It is very depressing that such serious crimes are occurring frequently in the state even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
Informing that a meeting will be held at the earliest concerning the incident, she said she has asked all the concerned officials to remain present in the meeting virtually.
About the incident
A 14 –year-old girl was gang-raped on the night of July 18, 2021 in Nangalbibra region by four youths who accosted her when she went to a shop in the village to procure candles for her mother.
She was sexually assaulted in a school compound and the criminals were planning to commit a second crime in a graveyard when a patrolling police team from an anti-dacoity camp spotted them. The girl was rescued and the four accused were caught a few hours later.
Given her condition, the police team rushed her to Williamnagar Civil Hospital, barely 22 kms from Nangalbibra, but was turned away by the doctor on duty who cited jurisdiction issues.
She was ultimately made to travel 75 kms to Baghmara for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the four accused have been arrested by police. A police patrol party from Rongsa Awe anti-dacoity camp conducting night patrol arrested the four accused from Nongalbibra cemetery after they tried to commit the crime again after having sexually assaulted the minor at a deserted school in the old Coal India complex area near the Simsang river.
Public outcry
Various organisations in Meghalaya have come out to condemn the gruesome incident.
Two student and social organizations from the region- Garo Students’ Union and FKJGP, have asked the government to take action against the accused doctor for denying treatment to the injured girl. They have lodged a complaint with the East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Swapnil Tembe highlighting the core issue of saving a child’s life.
On his part, Tembe has asked the Medical Superintendent of Williamnagar Civil Hospital to find out the details of the incident and submit the report to him.
