The irony is not lost on us.

While women sportspersons from Manipur are making a splash at the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne, Retired Judge of the Calcutta High Court, SP Rajkhowa is in town to head the judicial inquiries instituted by the State Government to investigate the sexual molestation and perhaps rape of M Naobi Chanu while in the custody of Thoubal police commandos and the allegations of mass rape of Hmar women by cadres of two underground outfits at Churachandpur district on January 16 this year.

In far away Australia, three Manipuri women have made it to the medal list.

Ace weight lifter N Kunjarani did the country proud by winning the gold in the 48 kg category to be followed by Renubala Chanu who also won a gold in weight lifting.

The latest girl from Manipur to make it to the medal list is Laishram Monika who won silver, again in weight lifting.

At the moment India is third on the medal list with 12 gold, 8 silver and 3 bronze. Out of this the contribution of sportspersons from Manipur accounts for three medals, two gold and one silver.

A stupendous effort by any stretch of the imagination given the fact that Manipur has a population of only about 24/25 lakhs without adequate state of the art facilities.

Whether it is boxing (Mary Kom), hockey, football, weightlifting, cycling or archery, Manipuri women have always been at the forefront and it is something of a tragedy that while the women are winning laurels not only for the country but also for the State at the Commonwealth Games, the Government has to institute inquiry commissions to probe the allegations of rape and molestation of women.

Justice Rajkhowa is today in town and while the process of the inquiry commissions may start any time now, we sincerely need to take a look inwards and see how society has a whole has been treating the fairer sex.

We have the meira paibi culture which is unique to the world. Our women folk have been at the forefront in fighting the excesses of the security personnel and keeping a check on the conduct of the armed organisations.

In fact in every sphere of life, women of Manipur play an important role, but can we really say that they are safe ?

It is also very disturbing to see that the allegations of sexual molestation and perhaps rape of Naobi Chanu have been levelled against police commandos, the men in uniform who are here in the first place to uphold the law of the land.

Though the UNLF and the KCP have strongly refuted the rape charges levelled against its cadres and had even suggested that the matter be probed by an independent body, the fact stands that allegations have been raised.

If there is one lesson that the people as a whole should learn from the story of M Naobi Chanu, it is the fact that women in Manipur have been at the receiving end of many atrocities.

The perpetrators may be different but in the ultimate analysis what matters is the fact that women in Manipur are exposed to all sort of excesses and gross misconduct.

So while the Kunjaranis and Mary Koms continue to bring laurels to the State, we also have to contend with the shameful story of the Naobis.