NCW visits victim of domestic violence at Shillong civil hospital, assures to recommend strong action against husband, his family

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 20, 2024

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken strong cognizance against the recent horrendous case of domestic violence – where a woman in her mid-30s has suffered 45 percent burnt injury – by recommending punitive actions against her husband for setting her on fire and against his family for trying to defend his crime, as per law.

NCW member Delina Khongdup along with the chairperson of Meghalaya State Commission Iamon Syiem for Women (MSCW) visited the patient, who got readmitted in the Shillong Civil Hospital, and met the doctors to get first-hand information about her status on Wednesday.

The incident, which only surfaced recently after a well-wisher visited the victim in her residence, had taken place one month ago at Niriang village under Thadlaskein block in West Jaintia Hills district. The victim is a mother of six children.

Speaking to media persons, Khongdup said that the doctors are trying their best to treat the patient, who is a victim of a clear case of domestic violence.

“According to law, we will definitely bring all those involved (in the case) including her husband and her in-laws (to book). The husband has already been taken into custody and we will try our best not to grant him bail as long as she is in this critical condition,” she assured.

Asked on the measures to be recommended by the commission to ensure safety of women within the four walls of their homes, the NCW member however said, “As I said it will take time if we plan for any legislation, for any laws and regulation but what immediate things we can do is awareness. I reiterate that awareness is important to prevent such kinds of incidents and as a society we should be responsible to help each other in critical times such as this.”

Dr C Wanniang, a surgeon who is treating the patient, informed that the victim was first admitted in the Shillong civil hospital on October 7, with 45 percent burnt injuries on her face, neck, limps and chest. Her husband was taking care of her right from the time she got admitted till the time that she decided to go back home on November 1.

According to him, the hospital has never discharged her considering her case.

“However, since the patient was refusing injection and dressing and was persistent about going home, she left without us discharging her. We have not discharged her…,” he clarified.

The doctor also informed that the case was taken as an accidental burnt injury because the patient never disclosed the history of how the incident had happened. “She doesn’t say anything but I advised her that she should get regular dressing daily and be encouraged to have a high protein diet intake for rapid recovery,” he said.

Dr Wanniang further informed that the patient is stable and doing fine.

On the other hand, chairperson of the MSCW Iamon Syiem said that the outcome of the meeting was very positive. She emphasized on the need to strengthen coordination between the commission and the one stop centre. Syiem said that the authorities of the hospital have assured to appoint a social health worker to take care of such cases.

According to her, the case was claimed that the woman fell in the fireplace. “We will advise them (police) to investigate it again because it is a clear case of domestic violence and that the husband has burnt her. We will definitely look into the matter,” she assured.