U Morok rape victim: No compensation, counselling given
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 21 2013 : Even though the Scheme for Relief and Rehabilitation for Victims of Rape guarantees monetary compensation as well as medical and psychological aid to rape victims, the U-morok (chilli) trader who was gang raped mercilessly has not received any sort of compensation from the Government.

The woman who was gang raped by four men at gun point is now suffering from serious trauma and other psychological problems.

She is being diagnosed and treated by Psychiatrist Dr RK Lenin of RIMS.

With her husband picking up fights every now and then, the couple is not in a position to send their children to school.

If a working woman has been raped, she should be given monetary compensation of not less than Rs two lakhs in addition to medical and psychological aid under the Scheme for Relief and Rehabilitation for Victims of Rape.

Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai gave compensation to some rape victims earlier under the same scheme.

Social Welfare Director-in-charge G Satyabati while speaking at the international fortnight observation of crime against women at 1st MR banquet hall in November 2012 announced that the U-Morok trader would also be compensated soon but the victim is yet to receive any form of compensation.

An accused in the rape case

According to Panti who is related to the victim, the shocking incident not only bred physical and mental problems in the victim but also ruined her family.

The victim was once a very hard-working woman who led a peaceful life by cultivating U-morok and banana farms in their village located under Nungba sub-division of Tamenglong district.

She was also committed to the education of her children She kept and sent her children to schools at Imphal.

She used to earn livelihood of her family by selling U-Morok, banana and other vegetables planted in her own farms.

She was returning home along with a cousin in a Shaktiman truck after selling her merchandise when she was abducted from Keinou at gun pointed and raped by four men at Irom Meijrao in the intervening night of March 21 and 22, 2012.Since then, physical and mental health of the woman has been deteriorating day by day.

On account of her condition, her eldest son has given up formal education and her eldest daughter who cleared class XII exam this year has her dreams of becoming a nurse shattered because she cannot afford the fees of nursing schools.

The third child reading in class VIII was expelled from school because his parents could not pay school fees.

The youngest child has been sent to a relative's house.

According to the victim's counsel Advocate Ngangom Tejkumar, the four rapists must pay compensation to the victim.

Moreover, State Legal Services Authority can recommend Govt to pay compensation to the victim, he added.