New Delhi, May 18, 2006: The National Commission for Women (NCW), which probed into the alleged rape and molestation of 25 tribal girls in two remote villages of Churachandpur District in Manipur, today recommended to the government to take urgent steps for the medical treatment and complete rehabilitation of the victims.

Eighteen armed militants belonging to the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) have allegedly stormed two villages - Parbung and Lungthulien - in the district and raped 25 HMAR tribal girls in the first half of January, besides severely beating up about 400 men of the two villages, NCW chairperson Girija Vyas told reporters.

The inaccessibility of the two villages makes it difficult for the villagers to communicate with the rest of the world and bare minimum facilities of civic life like water, electricity, primary health centre, telephone were lacking in the two villages, depriving the victims of any medical treatment for long, she said.

The first FIRs in the incident were lodged in the first week of February, she said.

Following a representation by Hmar Students Association, a member of the NCW, Malini Bhattacharya, visited the two villages on May 10 and 11, she said. The NCW member also met the villagers, who have taken refuge at Sakawrdai Camp set up by Mizoram Government, Vyas said.

In order to instill confidence in the minds of the traumatized victims, armed forces should be stationed there as long as they are needed, she said.

Food supply be ensured to the victims, who are staying in relief camps, among other things.

Source: ZEENews.com