Shillong, March 20, 2006: President of the All Tribals Students’ Union Manipur, Dr John Pulamte on Monday condemned the alleged rape of more than 21 Hmar women, including minors as young as 13, by Manipur valley based militants, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the Kangleipak Communist Party, at Tipaimukh Subdivision under Churachandpur district, which is dominated by Hmar tribe.
Addressing a press conference here, Dr Pulamte said that the counter insurgency operation, “Operation All Clear”, conducted by the Indian Army in Manipur, has driven the Manipur based militants to Tipaimukh subdivision. Dr Pulamte said taking advantage of its remoteness and the absence of law and order and State governance in the subdivision, the militants unleashed a reign terror among the Hmar people.
Dr Pulamte informed that the Government of Manipur on March 18 has instituted a judicial inquiry on the above incident to be headed by a retired Judge. However, he said, “with due respect to the judicial system in the country, we are doubtful on the commission instituted by the Government”.
He said that any official probe that is to be undertaken should have a direct involvement of the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Women, adding that the said probe should be headquatered at Parbung sub-headquaters in Tipaimukh sub-division of Churachandpur district and not at Imphal as proposed by the Government.
“The cruel designs of the militants took the path of taxing the poor villages, forced labour as porters, torture and beatings, planting of landmines in the villages and fields,” Dr Pulamte said adding that continuous reign of terror has not only resulted in the villages getting maimed and killed by landmines, gross displacement of thousand of Hmar villagers to different parts of Manipur, Mizoram and Assam.”
Source: The Shillong Times