Meghalaya minor rape case: CM Mukul Sangma refuses to sack home minister

Lyngdoh came into limelight after a 14-year-old, who was trafficked, was raped repeatedly in a guest house owned by his son.

Updated on: Jan 29, 2017, 12:55:31 IST

By Utpal Parashar, Guwahati

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Notwithstanding the growing clamour for the removal of home minister HDR Lyngdoh, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma refused to sack him saying the law did not require that.

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma. (PTI photo)

Lyngdoh came into the limelight after a 14-year-old girl, who was trafficked, was raped repeatedly in a guest house owned by his son. Sixteen people, including Independent MLA Julius K Dorphang, have been arrested till date for their involvement in the case.

“As of now, no. The law doesn’t demand so,” Sangma told newspersons in Shillong on Saturday on being asked whether he would remove Lyngdoh from the cabinet.

Read: Heat on Meghalaya CM to sack home minister after arrest of rape-accused MLA

Sangma’s statement comes two days after Meghalaya governor V Shanmuganathan’s resignation on Thursday following allegations of sexual misconduct and demands from Raj Bhawan employees for his ouster.

“What wrong have I done? Investigation is on and agencies are carrying out their duties without interference,” Lyngdoh told reporters on Saturday.

Demand for Lyngdoh’s resignation arose last month following the arrest of an employee of the guest house, which is owned by his son Nathaniel O Rymmai, on charges for ‘pimping’ the minor victim.

Four people, including MLA Dorphang, had raped the girl on separate occasions at Rymmai’s Marvelene Inn. The victim was also taken to other guest houses and a government-owned resort and sexually exploited before she was rescued last month.

Read: Shillong takes to the streets against rape after minor victim identifies MLA

The Congress government in Meghalaya has come under flak from NGOs and opposition parties for failing to remove Lyngdoh.

Since the home minister is in charge of the police department, there are fears that he can influence the probe.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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