Demand for death penalty for sexual assault and murder accused : Keep track of influx, says SKM Nari Shakti

PRAKASH ADHIKARI, EOI, GANGTOK, APRIL 19, 2023 :  Condemning on the recent sexual assault and murder of an 11 year old minor at Pangthang, members of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha(SKM) Nari Shakti have demanded death penalty of the accused. 

Addressing a news conference in Gangtok on Wednesday, General Secretary of SKM Nari Shakti Pooja Sharma said such incidents should not be politicised and such criminals should get harshly punished. 

She also conveyed her deepest condolences to the family of the victim. She also announced that the SKM Nari Shakti would organize a candle march this Sunday demanding justice for the minor. 

She appealed to everyone to participate in the candle rally to betaken out on April 23 at NBBDC, Tadong. 

President SKM Nari Shakti Kala Rai said the case should be completed in the fast track mode and justice should be meted out to the victim girl child and her family. 

She requested that no lawyer from Sikkim should take this case and that the face of the accused should be shown. 

“The more the punishment, the better the justification to the family,” she added; saying that a criminal was always a criminal regardless of one’s caste or religion.

DICHEN ONGMU, EOI, GANGTOK, APRIL 19, 2023 : President Sikkim Krantikari Morcha Nari Shakti Kala Rai on Wednesday stressed on the need for keeping track of influx. She said while the concerned departments should maintain records of labourers entering the state, local landlords should keep records of their tenants for future reference in case of such incidents in Sikkim. On April 14, the body of an 11-year-old girl was recovered and on Monday a taxi driver hailing from Bihar was arrested on charge of sexual assault and murder. Kala Rai expressed concern about the safety in Sikkimese society and urged everyone to be alert to avoid such gruesome incidents. Rai emphasized that the government and the police department alone could not control crimes in the state. “It’s the responsibility of everyone in society. 

"The Sikkimese society is broad-minded where we allow our children to live freely but as parents, we should be aware enough and stay aware about their whereabouts and activities without making them feel controlled, "Rai said. 

 She added that even parents should know their duty and build a healthy environment at home for the better and safe upbringing of their children. General Secretary SKM Nari Shakti Pooja Sharma stressed on not tolerating such heinous crime and announced plans to approach the Education department to work extensively on moral education classes in schools to help children understand the behavioral patterns of the criminal minds. 

President, Gangtok District SKM Nari Shakti Chung Chung Bhutia emphasized that schools played an important role in ensuring the safety of children. She said they would be requesting the Education Department to ensure that children were given admissions only in their nearby localities to avoid far off travels and such criminal attacks on them. 

She added that teachers should also take extra effort to ensure if the children had reached home safe or not. The school security should be more vigilant and check the school premises after the school hours. Parents should be more apprehensive about their children