In a delayed report, a married man in his late 50s, was apprehended and later excommunicated from the village for allegedly raping a mentally challenged mother of eight on May 17 evening in the victim’s residence.
Sources from the Benreu village under Peren district, informed Nagaland Post, that the accused Kiedai Dwaswang of Ngwalwa Village is the father of four children.
The victim, who is from another village under Peren district, was living in Ngwalwa village with her husband and their eight children. Most shockingly, the sources also alleged that it was the fourth time the rape accused has been involved in the crime. Sources said all the victims were married women who were either from the village or around it. The sources expressed strong resentment at the ‘punishment’ meted out to the rape accused, who had allegedly committed four rapes. As per the customary court, the rape accused has been excommunicated (Zila Bahar) from the village for seven days but on completion of the sentence, will be allowed to return to the village.
The sources said when the crime was viewed as serious in nature, the punishment was lenient and that was the reason why women in and around Ngalwa did not feel safe because of the presence of Kiedai.
In this regard, the women society of Ngwalwa have convened a joint meeting with the men folk at the village on May 19 to take up the matter for further course of action.