North East Network condemns rape incident in Shillong

Staff Correspondent

Shillong: The North East Network (NEN) has strongly condemned the alleged rape of an 18-year-old girl by a public official – Vikash Gupta– in Shillong last week. Gupta holds the post of Ward Commissioner of the Cantonment Area in Shillong. He is also the owner of Aptech Aviation and Hospitality Academy and Hotel Assembly in the city.

Issuing a press release on Monday, the state Director of NEN Joy Grace Syiem stated: “This case is a classic one of a man in power victimizing a young girl who comes from a marginalized socio-economic background. Such cases are never reported usually and these women continue to be abused by sexual predators.”

“Sexual impunity of people in power has long thrived in the State of Meghalaya. The accused, in this case too, thought the girl would not report the case, threatening her that he had contacts with people in authority and he also asserted that nothing would happen to him. In a way to prove his point, he even sent her selfies of himself when he was brought to Sardar Police Station, in Police Bazaar Shillong. Clearly, he displayed that normal procedures of arrest were not applied to him,” said Syiem.

“We applaud and support the young girl and her family in breaking their silence and taking a stand to report the case,” Syiem said.

The North East Network has asked the law enforcement agencies, the courts and all authorities to take speedy action against the accused and for justice to prevail.

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