IMPHAL, March 26: Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) today expressed confidence that the state Home department would sincerely take up appropriate action in consideration of the sentiment of the people with regard to the recent alleged rape of a hill woman by four persons, including two IRB personnel and termed the incident ‘horrible.’
It is a shame that a hill woman was gangraped by four men including security personnel, HERICOUN said in a release on Monday and added that such crime will recur if stringent actions are not taken up from the side of the state Home department in connection with the latest incident of rape.
The council also lauded Bishnupur SP Th Radheshyam, who booked the culprits involved in the rape case, by considering it as his own duty.
However casting a doubt over whether justice will be done in the case, the release has said that HERICOUN hopes the state Home department and government would let the law take its course in consideration of the sentiment of the public.
Meanwhile the Women Action for Development (WAD) in a separate press statement has strongly condemned the gang rape of a 40 year old house-wife of Longlei Village in Tamenglong District on March 22 at a place near Keinou Awang leikai.
It has further stated that the organization opposes crime against women and girls which is swelling day by day in various forms and trends.
It has further added that during the current year (January to March 26, 2012), a total number of 55 cases of violence against women were reported in the local newspaper which include eight rape cases, one rape and murder, three murder, six suicide, seven missing, one molesting, one complaint, 24 assault, two rape attempt and two threat. Mention may be made that recently a 14 year old girl from Mount Average Village in Senapati was brutally raped and even attempted to murder her by the perpetrator on February 9, it added.
In other cases, an 8 year old girl from Ngaikhong Siphai was raped on February 12 and another girl of the same age of Konthoujam Mamang Leikai was also attempted to rape on March 12 which shows that even minor girls are not secure in this society. Claiming that this is totally genocide WAD further stated that it is time for all of us to respond such crime against humanity, irrespective of caste, creed, race and religion to protect and prevent our women and girls from being victimized and traumatized as well as free from any fear psychosis.
On the other hand, it is very unfortunate that the State Police (IRB, CDOs, VDF) etc. who are supposed to protect the civilian, even committed such heinous crimes in our state. It may also be recalled that on March 9 a women was hacked by her husband T. Okendro Singh of Pangei Bazar serving as instructor of Police Training Academy, Pangei. A case was lodged but unfortunately the accused was released on bail.
WAD really appreciate and acknowledge the Bishnupur Police for the Prompt and immediate actions by arresting the four accused persons on March 24. Further, WAD appeals to the concern Home Department to take up tangible actions against the culprits (Police Personal) to deliver justice to the victimized women and girls of our state. We have the firm believe that it is the need of the hour to review the recruitment process of the security forces.
In this regard, WAD appeal to the State Government to book all the culprits according to the law of the country in the interest of the general public added the press release.