Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 01:
The court of judicial Magistrate 1st Class (Imphal) has issued a bailable warrant of arrest against Member of Meghalaya State women's Commission (MSWC) Sophie R Marak in connection with a domestic violence case.
Judicial Magistrate A Noutuneshori Devi on Friday last served the warrant asking Sophie R Marak to appear before the court on April 8 .
The warrant was issued based on a criminal case filed by one Urmila Chanam Marak, who is Sophie's daughter in-law.
urmila, a manipuri native alleged that her husband John R Marak and Sophie subjected her to domestic violence which made her endure physical and mental torture.
The same court had also earlier asked the mother and son respondents in the said case to which counsel of the accused duo had approached the Court to provide security cover reasoning that there is strong apprehension of being abducted on arrival at Imphal.
Acting of the counsel's prayer the Court asked authorities of City Police station to extent security coverage to sophie and John's movement from Imphal (Tulihal) Airport to the Lamphelpat complex of the JMIC.
It is worth mentioning that even though John complied with the Court order on provision of police protection, the accused mother did not show up.
The magistrate and Protection Officer of Protection of women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA) reportedly gave counselling to Urmila and John for reconciliation.
A medical practitioner Urmila (30) was married to John and was serving at a Govt health unit in Tura district of Meghalaya State in 2000 and had since then settled there.
As per case dossiers, Urmila had accused the mother in-law of committing atrocities against her while her husband frequently assaulted her on alleged demand of an dowry amount of Rs 10 lakh.
Subsequently, urmila along with her 4-year old daughter left the in-law's place and had been living at her parental home here in Imphal.
Filing a case against Sophie and John under Section 12 of PWD-VA 2005, Urmila prayed before the Court to issue a decree that the two respondents pay Rs 50,000 as interim monetary relief, Rs 10 lakhs as one time settlement and a separate suitable accommodation for her.
Moreover, the victim woman had also lodged a complaint case with the Tura police station and the latter had registered an FIR case pertaining to violation of dowry Act.