In Meghalaya, militants blow off woman’s head for resisting rape

Posted on June 5, 2014 0 Comments24

SHILLONG: Garo militants blew up the head of a 35-year-old mother of four with a Kalashnikov rifle when she resisted their attempt to rape her in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills on Tuesday evening. They admitted to killing her claiming she was a police informer.

The incident, which sent shock waves throughout the country’s only matrilineal state, took place in Goera Rongat village, about 350km east of the state capital. Shaken by what most in the northeast described as “an unprecedented crime”, chief minister Mukul Sangma said, “I condemn the ghastly act of militants in the strongest possible word. Every right thinking citizen should condemn it.”

“I am shocked at the brutal killing of a woman in Meghalaya for resisting rape,” said Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju in New Delhi, adding, “I called up the CM and asked him to ensure the culprits are identified and acted against urgently. Earlier, PA Sangma had called me to complain about the poor law and order in Meghalaya and sought central intervention.”

The Centre, Rijiju said, has sought a factual report from the Meghalaya government regarding the incident.

IGP (operations) GHP Raju on Wednesday said, “At least five Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants raided the house of the woman, locked up her husband in a room and attempted to rape her in the presence of their children.”

He added, “The militants blew up the woman’s head by shooting her five to six times in the head with an AK rifle. Her head was split into two.” He said the killing was the handiwork of GNLA militants led by their Chokpot area commander, Kiljang R Sangma.

Founded in 2009, the GNLA has been fighting for a separate Garoland state. As the killing drew widespread criticism, the GNLA, in a statement, said the woman was eliminated because she was a “police source and was responsible for the death of our training instructor, Kram.” Kram was killed in an encounter with police in the Chokpot area near Goera Rongat on May 1.

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