Lamka, March 08, 2006: A massive protest rally was staged at Churachandpur district headquarters today to denounce the alleged rape of Lungthulien, Parbung and Torbung women folk by cadres of an underground organisation.
During the protest march held under the aegis of Joint Women Organisation, Churachandpur the rallyists, including a large number of students, carried placards and banners written ‘Joint Women Organisation strongly condemns the rape of Tipaimukh Hmar women by UNLF cadres,’ ‘Joint women organisation wants a strong Government that protects the life of innocent civilians’, ‘Hey UNLF is rape your goal’ etc.
The protest march starting from Churachandpur public ground and snaking through IB Road, Tiddim Road assembled near the Deputy Commissioner’s office located at Tuibong where a memorandum was handed over to the DC for submission to the Chief Minister.
Churachandpur district SP was also present when the memorandum was handed over.
One person who claimed to be an eyewitness to the sordid rape recounted the incident at the public ground, while another two eyewitnesses gave their testimonies to DC AK Sinha.
Effigy of the Chief Minister was also burnt by the protestors.
Briefing media persons after the rally, president of Hmar Women Association JL Sawimi stated that a formal complaint would be lodged to the police besides intimating the national Human Rights Commission and Manipur Human Rights Commission on the issue.
Listing demands of the women body, she said Government forces be deployed in areas where the incident took place on priority basis, experts be pressed into service to clear landmines planted in nearby villages, rehabilitation of the victims, payment of compensation to the tune of Rs 5 lakhs each and stringent punishment to the guilty.
Talking to The Sangai Express on the sideline of the protest march, CCpur SP Lahri Dorjee disclosed that Parbung police have registered 10 cases and firm instruction have been issued to the officer- in-Charge to be present at the affected village.
He, however, maintained that statements of the victims had not yet been recorded as they had moved to Mizoram.
Two eyewitnesses – Levis Hmar (21) and Khawphuithar Hmar (21) of Lungthulien village – were also produced before media persons.
According to Levis the UG cadres descended at the village after dusk and assaulted the menfolk after forcing them to lie flat on the ground.
After separating the men, some women were taken towards the nearby bushes and inside the houses from where cries were heard, she said. She, however, could not recall the particular day when the incident took place.
On being questioned, the two girls conveyed that assaulters identified themselves as UNLF cadres and added that they (villagers) had never expected such behaviour as UNLF cadres had always been kind and considerate whenever they stayed at the village. When urged to comment on clarification/denial issued by the UNLF which was carried by State dailies today, president of the Hmar Women Association contended that she personally was not a witness to the alleged incident but was conveying what she had been informed by the affected villagers.
On the other hand one Zoramlien (55) of Lungthulien village who also addressed the congregation informed that the villagers ran out from their homes on hearing gunshots at around 8-9 pm of January 16 and saw the underground cadres. He, nevertheless maintained that he personally did not witness any unruly conduct from the intruders.
Meanwhile, the women organisation’s memorandum forwarded to the CM also contained names of eight victims of landmine blasts and nine villagers who suffered varying degree of injuries in the said blast.
During the rally leaders of various women organization called on all to condemn the incident, which was nothing short of defiling womanhood. Despite the fact that Tribals and Meitei are living under the same roof and are engaged in inter-community marriage it is a disgrace that tribal women should be raped in such inhuman action. “Earlier traps were set to kill wild animals, but now traps are being set all around to destroy our lives; raped and assaulted as if we are animals,� thundered one of the women. Addressing rallyists who turned up at his office to submit a memorandum, DC CCpur AK Sinha said, he had referred the matter to the highest level. He also expressed solidarity with the people and shared their grievances and promised to address them in as far as his capacity sanctions.
Source: The Sangai Express