Imphal, March 18, 2006: The Okram Ibobi Singh government has instituted two judicial inquiry commissions to probe the allegations of mass rape of Hmar women by militants and the molestation of Maibam Naobi Devi in custody. Justice S.P. Rajkhowa, a retired judge of Calcutta High Court, will head the two probe panels.
Justice Rajkhowa, who is expected to arrive here tomorrow, will launch the probe immediately. The time given for submission of reports is two months in each case.
On March 8, thousands took to the streets of Churachandpur to protest the alleged rape of 21 girls by members of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) in three villages of Tipaimukh subdivision.
The Joint Women’s Organisation of Churachandpur district, an umbrella body of four women groups of different tribal communities, alleged that the militants sexually assaulted 21 women, including a 13-year-old, at Lungthulien, Parbung and another village in Tipaimukh.
The militants denied the charges.
The terms of reference of the committee are to determine the truth in the allegation and also recommend measures to prevent such incidents in future.
In the other case, Maibam Naobi Devi of Thoubal district alleged that she was molested and tortured in custody. Naobi had been arrested while she was on her way to attend the funeral of her friend, a slain People’s Liberation Army militant.
The terms of reference of the second commission are to find out circumstances leading to the arrest, ascertaining the truth in the allegation and also recommend measures so that such incidents do not recur.
Source: Telegraph