GUWAHATI: A Shillong-based women's organisation has petitioned the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) over an incident where a vigilante group, comprising mostly women, had beaten up three girls with batons and scissors and cut their hair on the suspicion that they were prostitutes.
In its petition, the Civil Society Women Organisation (CSWO) urged the Commission to take up the matter with appropriate authorities so that the perpetrators of the crime were brought to justice.
The incident took place on the night of September 14 at Pynthor in East Khasi Hills but it came to light two days ago after videos of it went viral on social media outlets.
Recounting the horrific incident, one of the women said they were travelling in a car along with three youngsters when the vigilante group intercepted the vehicle and ordered them to come out.
The woman said, "As soon as we came out, they started hitting us with hockey sticks. Later, residents of the area came out and then slapped and pushed us around. We were dragged by our hair and the women started calling us prostitutes. They cut our hair and kept assaulting us till morning. They took videos of the incident and threatened to send them to the media," she said.
The CSWO alleged that one of the perpetrators repeatedly hit one of the victims with scissors after she prevented her from cutting her hair.
"This is a clear case of human rights violation and an act of terror by the so-called vigilante group," CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said. She alleged that the victims were also assaulted and abused with vulgar words on September 11.
"The Commission should take up the matter with the state government and the police for the formulation of stringent laws against vigilante groups taking the law into their hands as such acts may lead to unfortunate deaths when crowds are invited," the CSWO wrote in its letter to the Commission.
The police said a case had been registered. "No arrests have been made so far. We are trying to identify the people involved," East Khasi Hills superintendent of police, Davis Marak, said.