By M Devananda Sharma
Imphal (Manipur), Aug 12: The committee against gang-rape by terrorists warned to hold a mass rally on August 15, if the government fails to book the culprits involved in the gang-rape in Churachandpur by August 14.
The committee was formed by a huge congregation of women from different parts of Manipur at Uripok Konsam Leikai, Imphal West. Informing media persons about the formation of the committee and its proposed stir, committee’s representative Aheibam Premila told media persons that meria pabis (women torch bearers) from different parts of Manipur gathered at Uripok Konsam Leikai on Friday and formed the committee.
The Committee strongly condemned the gangrape of a Meitei woman when miscreants of a particular tribe attacked Meitei settlements in Churachandpur on May 3, she said, adding that the committee demanded arrest of all the culprits involved in the heinous crime.
If the government fails to arrest culprits within August 14, a mass rally will be organized in different districts of the state on August 15 Independence Day, she said and urged Meira Paibis of different localities to start awareness of the rally.
A 37-year-old woman approached the police in Manipur’s Bishnupur on Wednesday with a complaint that she was sexually assaulted on May 3 in Churachandpur district. Following the complaint, a Zero First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Bishnupur police station and transferred to the Churachandpur police station the same day. The FIR has been filed pseudonymously and the complaint does not bear the survivor’s signature.
The police have registered a case of gangrape, assault or criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman with common intention against “unknown miscreants”. According to the complaint, the incident took place at 6.30 p.m. on May 3rd the day ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur following a tribal solidarity march.
Meanwhile the COCOMI women’s wing urged State Women commission, Manipur to investigate the rape case as well as the atrocities committed by the male jawans of 9th Assam Rifles towards the women Meira paibis of Manipur.
