IT News
Imphal, Sept 19:
Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) expressed its deep pains to the fact that minor girls are not safe during the Covid-19 Pandemic situation, that just after 12 days after Mayang Imphal Gang Rape and Murder of a 14 years old girl was happened, another shocking Sexual Assaults incident took place at border town Moreh on 15 September, 2020, this time to an innocent minor girl of only 3 and half years old.
“Sources indicated, that the Moreh Rape Case of minor, is trying to settle through negotiations in between the two private parties i.e. the victim’s and offender’s family, even though an FIR has been lodged by the Moreh Police Station under Section 6 of POCSO Act”, a statement of the MACR said.
The MACR warned to all concerned to refrain from such illegal practice of compromising on rape cases, because Raping of a minor of 3 and half years old is a heinous offence , which is termed as “Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Offence” under POCSO Act, punishable with rigorous imprisonment for at least twenty years, or life imprisonment or even death penalty.
“Rape is a non-compoundable offence means the case cannot be compromised at any cost by the private parties , as the very offence committed is seriously affecting the society and laws of the land cannot leave the matter to the private parties’ discretion to compromise or settle at their will. It is high time community leaders stop this illegal practices promoting private compromise and settlement without prosecution by a competent court, as it will be an injustice to the victims, on the other hand indirectly encouraging to commit such heinous crimes again and again without fearing of deterrent legal penalties in future”, the statement added.
It further said that in case the offender is to be a juvenile, the case must be dealt as per the provisions of Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act 2015, but there is no option for compromise and settle at individual level.
The MACR urged upon the Moreh police to expedite the police investigation process, apprehend the offender at the earliest and disallow any kind compromise arrangement.