Along with AFSPA came killings, rapes and sex trade: Ng Tejkumar
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 19 2015: After the Armed Forces Special Powers' Act, 1958 (AFSPA) came into force in Manipur, the number of killings, rapes and cases involving sex workers have increased in the State particularly in the post 1990 period.

The existence of over 1000 women sex workers in Manipur at present can also be attributed to the impact of AFSPA, stated Ng Tejkumar, Director, Prosecution, Government of Manipur.

Ng Tejkumar made the statement during the one-day alliance building programme organized by Woman Action for Development (WAD) on the topic of Alliance Programme for the Survivor of Conflict, Drugs, HIV/AIDS, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assaults and Street Vendour at Lamyanba Sanglen, Palace Compound.

Speaking at the function, Ng Tejkumar said that since 1990, AFSPA have claimed many innocent lives in the name of suppressing armed movement while many others became drug users to cope with the impact of violence.

Many educated youth chose the wrong path while many of the young men are dying or suffering from deadly diseases, he said.

Addressing the programme WAD Secreatry Sobita Mangsatabam said that AFSPA has claimed the lives of many innocent persons while a number of women were reportedly raped.

She said women bore the brunt of AFSPA's impact and called on all to shoulder collective responsibility and adopt capacity building measures for seeking justice.

AFSPA has claimed thousands of lives and many widows of conflict are working on the streets to bring up their children, said Sobita.

She also pointed out that instead of encouraging the women to carry on with their daily struggles, they have been mocked by the society.

Many of them have been forced to choose professions which are against the norms of the society, said Sobita.

The programme was also attended by AMWJU President Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, Dr Priyadarshini Gangte, Jina Khumukcham, Moirangthem Bina and others.

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