Imphal, April 17, 2006: The Justice S.P. Rajkhowa Commission inquiring into the alleged rape of tribal women by militants in Churachandpur district will temporarily shift its office at the scene of the alleged crime in the interiors of the district to record the statements of the victims.
Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh constituted the judicial probe panel headed by the retired judge of Calcutta High Court on March 13.
The decision followed allegations by women’s organisations and the Hmar Inpui, the apex body of community, that 21 Hmar tribals, including minors, were allegedly raped by militants in Tipaimukh sub-division of Churachandpur district in January.
They also alleged that the militants assaulted several villagers.
An official source today confirmed that the team would stay at Parbung, the sub-divisional headquarters and record the statements of the alleged victims. The current office of the commission is at the government-run Hotel Imphal.
The team will leave Imphal tomorrow by chopper and hold sittings at Parbung till April 25.
Justice Rajkhowa arrived here this afternoon from Guwahati and will proceed to the south district tomorrow.
Parbung police station registered two cases on the alleged mass rape following complaints lodged by the villagers. The cases listed names of 15 “rape victims”.
Members of the Hmar Inpui and another Imphal-based organisation, the Human Rights Alert, have submitted their statements to the commission.
The last date for submission of statements expired yesterday. Ibobi Singh decided to send the commission to the scene of the alleged crime following strong pressure from the Hmar Women Association and Hmar Inpui. An official source said adequate security arrangements had been made at Parbung for the sittings of the commission.
The Human Rights Alert demanded that the government provide security for the team’s journey to the venue of the commission’s sitting and stressed the need for a neutral interpreter, as several villagers in Tipaimukh cannot speak Manipuri.
Governor S.S. Sidhu and Ibobi Singh had visited Parbung and nearby Thanlon and given the villagers a patient hearing.
The militant United National Liberation Front and Kangleipak Communist Party, named as accused in the alleged mass rape case, have strongly denied the allegations, saying they would welcome any inquiry by neutral civil society organisations.
The UNLF also said its members were ready for a probe by the Red Cross.
Courtesy: Telegraph
See also:
- Environmental Clearance of Tipaimukh Dam by MoEF (October 31st, 2008)
- Chakka bandh on Sep 18 against Tipaimukh dam (September 17th, 2008)
- 1 lakh Manipur villagers hit by bamboo flowering (September 2nd, 2008)
- Heavy security to be deployed on 99 km stretch of road to Tipaimukh dam (July 29th, 2008)
- Army launches Tipaimukh vigil (April 30th, 2008)