Ex-Mawhati MLA sentenced to 25 yrs imprisonment for rape

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 24, 2021

Former legislator of Mawhati Julius Dorphang was on Tuesday sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment by a POCSO court for raping a 14-year-old girl.

The order was issued by the Special Judge Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), FS Sangma in Ri-Bhoi district.

Confirming this, Dorphang’s counsel, Kishore Ch Gautam said that the former MLA has been convicted by the court.

Guatam however said the court’s verdict will be challenged before the Meghalaya High Court.

Dorphang was a former chairman and founder of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) before he surrendered in 2007. He later contested and won from Mawahati constituency in 2013.

The former MLA was accused of raping a 14-year-old in 2017. Following the allegation of rape, Dorphang absconded and was later nabbed from Guwahati ISBT. The legislator was arrested and booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act.Earlier last year, he was granted bail on medical grounds by the Meghalaya High Court