Child rights activists protest release of rape-accused on bail

Aizawl, Dec 8 (UNI) Mizoram child rights activists here today voiced concern over the release of three people, accused of raping minor girls on bail, fearing recurrence of crimes.

Mizoram Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Chairperson Lalengruali Sailo termed the release of the rapists as ''unfortunate''.

CWC member and human rights activist Ruatfela Nu asserted that the judges were legal experts and they could release the rapists as per the law.

''However, it is not safe to release these accused rapists. With the release of these rapists, the security of minor girls is being threatened,'' she said.

She added that the judiciary should have been more strict and not released the accused (who had been chargesheeted within the stipulated time frame), because even though they had not been convicted, there was enough evidence that they had abused minors sexually.

One of the accused, also the founder and ''home father'' of the Champhai-based Genesaret Home, had allegedly raped two minor girls under his custody.

On the basis of reports, the Board of Control for Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes had examined the matter and he was chargesheeted.

He was further reported to have attempted to rape another five minors.

Another accused Hualhnuna, who was arrested on charges of molesting a middle school girl, had also been granted interim bail owing to his daughter's marriage in December.

Yet another accused Dawngkima was released on grounds of his mother's illness and other family problems.

Proving the CWC's fears true, a convicted rapist Lalthuthlungliana, who had escaped from the Aizawl Central Jail on November 6, raped a minor girl again at Mualkawi village in Champhai near the Indo-Myanmar border before being re-arrested.

UNI