IT News
Imphal, Sept 12:
A 37-year-old married lady who was allegedly gang-raped by armed miscreants on the day (May 3) when the ongoing violence sparked in Churachandpur district still has not been provided with any form of compensation till today. The matter has been put to the notice of the Manipur Human Rights Commission after two activists – Keisham Pradipkumar and Kangjam Maharabi Singh filed a petition to the Commission on Monday.
The petition was filed to the MHRC under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 for not providing financial assistance/ compensation to the rape victim, who has been gang raped by Kukimiscreants on May 3, 2023 at Khumujamba Leikai, Churachandpur.
As per a reliable source, as many as 7 FIR-related rape and sexual assault have been reported at various police stations since the outbreak of the violence. Of these, the government had compensated 2 victims who were seen paraded naked by an unruly mob in a viral video uploaded just two days before the Parliament session. The source added that 3 other cases of rape-related complaints have also been approved for compensation by a high-level concerned government department.
As per the petition in connection with the failure to compensate the 37 years old lady, gang-raped by Kuki miscreants on May 3 evening, the rape victim filed a zero FIR at Bishnupur Police Station on August 9, 2023, and thereafter the same was transferred to Churachandpur Police Station.
According to the complaint submitted the incident took place at 6.30 p.m. on 3rd May 2023, the day ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur following a tribal solidarity march. On 3rd May 2023 at around 6.30 p.m., the Kuki miscreants started burning down the victim’s house, including her neighbour’s house, People started running for their lives. So, the victim carried her niece on her back and also held her two sons and started running from the spot along with her sister-in-law. Her sister-in-law was also carrying a baby on her back and running ahead of the victim. Thereafter, the victim stumbled and fell down on the road and was unable to get up when she ran about half a kilometre from her place. Her sister-in-law came back running toward her and picked up her niece from her back and ran along with her two sons as she insisted. Subsequently, when she finally managed to get up, some 5/6 Kuki miscreants got hold of her. Despite her resistance, she was forcefully pinned down. After this, those said men started sexually assaulting her. There was no help coming from anybody despite her cries for help. Thereafter some more Kuki miscreants joined them. At this time, she lost her consciousness. Later when she regained consciousness, she found herself in a house surrounded by some Meitei people. The victim did not disclose the incident to save the family’s honour and dignity and to avoid social ostracism for a long time.
The petition added that recently, the Petitioners came to know that the criminal case registered by the Manipur Police has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pursuant to an order passed by the Supreme Court of India. Presently, the woman victim is taking shelter in a government-run Institutional Care and that too after intervention made by the Petitioners.
After registration of FIR, the woman victim was taking shelter in a government-run Institutional Care. However, no financial assistance has been given to the woman victim till date despite the fact that there are several welfare schemes framed by various authorities of the Government of India and the Government of Manipur.
