SIPHRO

Imphal, May 22, 2006: The statements of the alleged victims of Parbung and Lungthulien mass rape of January 16 will be cross examined at Churachandpur in the second week of June.

The Rajkhowa Commission headed by Justice SP Rajkhowa had already received approval from the Joint Secretary Home to pay travel allowance and daily allowance to the victim girls and their guardians to come till Churachandpur for cross examination of their statements.

This was necessitated after the Hmar Women Association and Hmar Innpui expressed difficulties in terms of mainly transportation and accommodation for the alleged victims and their guardians since they are from extremely poor families.

Subsequently the commission informed the joint secretary home and the agreement was reached. Decision has been taken to get the alleged victims batch by batch to Churachandpur for cross examination. The commission will be informing the same to the concerned persons and authority before May 31 since the cross examination is tentatively scheduled in the second week of June.

However, the Justice informed that the petition put forward by a human rights group to examine the alleged accused through International Red Cross Society was rejected. He also added that copies of statements of the victims will be made available as petitioned by a civil body.

The Rajkhowa Commission has already begun it formal sitting at Hotel Imphal to probe the alleged torture and sexual assault to Maibam Naobi Chanu by personnel of Thoubal District Commandos.

Justice Rajkhowas said that Naobi`s appeal to the commission seeking to record her statements in front of camera was agreed. However no proceedings has been taken up since Naobi`s counsel failed to file an affidavit against the affidavit filed by the State police in reply to Naobi`s allegation of inhuman torture in custody. The commission had given Naobi`s counsel time till 24th of this month to file the required affidavit.

Source: The Imphal Free Press