SIPHRO

Yumnam Rupachandra

Imphal, June 3, 2006: The Justice (Rtd) Rajkhowa Inquiry Commission may be mulling whether to allow cross examination of rape victims of the Parbung area, as was demanded by some NGOs, but a lone-member fact-finding panel from the National Women Commission has already announced its “verdict”.

Mrs Malini Bhattacharya, who flew in from Kolkata yesterday, has recommended in a report submitted to the Governor, chief minister and chief secretary of Manipur, the immediate opening of the Parbung Primary Health Centre and posting doctors on an “emergency basis for the medical treatment of the tortured rape victms”.

Speaking to the Press today at the Manipur Press Club, Mrs Bhattacharya said that though there was no direct medical evidence of rape, secondary evidence in the form of trauma, depression, psychological disorder and various other signs associated with rape and molestation, had been enough for her to come to the conclusion that the girls had been raped.

“In the absence of primary evidence, secondary evidence coupled with testimonies of the victims, were enough,” she said.

She brushed aside a question as to whether she had come to the conclusion based on the expert opinion of a doctor present during the inquiry, and said that even though she was not a doctor, she had been associated with rape victims for a long time and could arrive at the conclusion herself.

Asked if she might be guilty of contempt of court, as she was commenting on a sensitive issue which was currently under inquiry by a commission instated for the purpose, Mrs Bhattacharya said that she respected the Justice Rajkhowa Commission and it was not the intention of the National Women Commission to interfere with the inquiry.

“I have spoken with him (Justice Rajkhowa) on an informal basis; we have shared our findings, although I have not given evidence before him. Ours is an independent inquiry; we take up issues that concern women and the report has been approved by the NWC,” Mrs Bhattacharya said.

“It is up to you to decide whether I am inviting contempt of court charges or not,” she told the reporters.

Giving details on the inquiry, Mrs Bhattacharya said she had visited Parbung and Lungthulien in Manipur on 10 and 11 May and Sakawrdai Camp in Mizoram on 12 May.
She was accompanied by representatives of Hmar Women’s Association (HWA) and Hmar Students Association and government officials of Mizoram and Manipur.

She said she had taken the “statement” of 21 “victims” and 18 villagers from the two villages. Out of the 15 girls from Lungthulien and 10 from Parbung who had been “raped, molested and assaulted, we were able to interview 21”, she said. The NWC inquiry team also interviewed government and police officials in the area.

The commission also drew up a 12-point recommendation list, which, she said, would be submitted to the Union government.

NWC also observed that disappointment and anger brewing among villagers was taking a communal turn. Mrs Bhattachrya , however, said it was not a case of Meitei vs Hmar and urged the administration to take immediate steps to restore their confidence.

Source: The Statesman