Jaynie N Sangma

Women’s rights Activist

Meghalaya

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on 10^th May regarding the fabricated charges against women’s rights activists Ms. Jaynie N Sangma. She was supporting a family to fight a case of witch hunting where 5 members of the family were killed extra-judicially in Mrigre village.

Ms. Jaynie N Sangma on March 26, 2017 was accompanied by the members of the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network team members Mr. Nadeem Ahmed- Media and Communication Officer and Mr. Ian Thomas Jensen Lonquist- photographer, to the village for a photo documentation on gender based violence, understanding superstition in local community, etc. The date of their visit contradicts the date of the complaint by the perpetrators. Before visiting the village, a letter was submitted with the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo hills for his support and cooperation concerning the above mentioned visit. Although assurance was given, the Deputy Commissioner and SP did not allow for the same. Hence, the contacted the Nokma in-charge. The two Nokma in-charge took them to the village. Tamera T Sangma, the eldest daughter told them that she doesn’t like her family because they practice witch craft. When Jaynie started asking more questions about witch craft, the Nokma in-charge stopped her. The youngest daughter seemed disturbed and upset. In front of others she exchanged numbers with Jaynie, and came to meet her the next day along with her husband. They met with the Deputy Commissioner to discuss about the case and a complaint letter was given to him for reinvestigation. Later a SOS message was sent from her husband’s mobile to Ms. Jaynie to send police to rescue them.

Police rescued them and brought them to Ms. Jaynie’s place. Some people went to the village of her husband including the driver of the member of District Council to abduct him. Since then, the members are absconding. Ms. Jaynie received court’s notice to appear before the court for allegedly interfering in the legal proceedings of the court    

HRDA prayed for thorough investigation and to take immediate actions on the perpetrators of the case.