Trial of Phaknung gang rape case starts
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 29 2018:
The trial of the Phaknung alleged gang rape case began today before the Court of Special Judge POCSO Imphal East and the submissions of two prosecution witnesses were recorded today.
The charge was framed against the two accused Thongam Sadananda (23) s/o (L) Th Shamu of Moirangkampu and Loushamban Suraj alias Dingku (19) s/o L Lokendro of Khurai Angom Leikai on February 21, for kidnapping two minor victims on April 14, last year, offence punishable under section 363/376-D and SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1898 of Indian Penal code.
The two accused were not present/ produced before the Court and after issuing show cause notice regarding the absence, the Court heard the submission of two prosecution witnesses of the case and recorded their statements.
The Court also fixed April 19 for the hearing of next prosecution witness.
The Investigation Officer (IO) of the case, M Roni, then SDPO Porompat, submitted the charge sheet after thorough investigation on July 17 last year against the two accused and five other juveniles.
It may be mentioned that a team of Imphal East district police and women police station Imphal East, arrested the two accused and five juveniles on April 17, after a complaint was filed by an NGO three days after the incident occurred.
On the next day, the two accused and the five juveniles were produced before the Special Court POCSO which remanded the accused Thorigam Sadananda to police custody and sent the remaining six, including Loushambam Suraj, to observation home after their counsel produced school certificates claiming them to be minors.
However ossification test was conducted on Loushangbam Suraj at JNIMS Department of Forensic Medicine on June 1 last year, after taking the permission of JJB Imphal East by the IO of the case who pointed out inconsistency in the date of birth of the alleged juvenile in the school certificate, Aadhaar card and the age certificate submitted in the case.
The test result later revealed that Suraj's real age was above 18 but below 20.Suraj was then transferred from JJB Imphal East to Special Court POCSO Imphal East on June 22 .