Gaikhangam Promises Action According To Law
Rape of student protested, accused cop suspended
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 25 2012: Teaching staff members and students of Tamphasana Girls Higher Secondary School staged a protest demonstration to denounce the rape of a student by a Manipur police personnel.

Over 1000 students and teachers staged sit-in-protest from around 11 am today at the Nityaipat Chuthek footpath.

While the initial protest was confined to the footpaths, enraged students later squatted around the traffic island in front of Raj Bhavan leading to disruption of vehicul ar movement for about half an hour.

They also shouted slogans demanded befitting punitive action against the accused police personnel.

As police reinforcement including lady personnel arrived at the spot to control the situation, a mild altercation ensued between the protestors and police even though the latter managed to herd away the protestors towards TG higher Secondary School, which is about 100 metres from the official residence of the Governor.

some students and teachers were allowed to hand over a complaint memorandum to Home Minister Gaikhangam later.

Cops trying to pacify the incensed students

When contacted Gaikhangam told The Sangai Express that the accused police personnel Yumnam William (28) of Khagempali Pankha has been placed under suspension pending an enquiry while his accomplice Thongam Tarun of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai would be punished according to law based on investigation report.

William reportedly waylaid the class 12 student at an Imphal East district location on October 20 while she was coming to school.

Her modesty was allegedly outraged at a restaurant located at Ghari area in Imphal West district.

Both William and Tarun were produced before the court of CJM, Imphal West with the judge remanding the duo to five more days in police custody.

william is said to be a driver of Imphal West district police commandos.

Speaking to newspersons, School Principal T Pramodini Devi described rape of the class 12 student by an armed police personnel as the most heinous crime.

Strongly condemning the act, she said School representatives have called on the victim student and obtained a copy of the police statement.

Deeply regretting that such cruel fate had befallen on one of her students, Pramodini said Government should initiate appropriate punitive action against the accused personnel in such a way that he too regret the inhumane act throughout his life.

In case there is sign of leniency against the culprit by the Government intense agitation would be launched against the Government.

According to TG Higher Secondary School Students Union general secretary Th Bindarani Devi rape of the class 12 student is an affront to the entire student community.

Taking grim note that such inhumane act has been committed by a member from the guardians of law, who are expected to protect the citizens, the secretary asserted that befitting punitive action be initiated against the guilty persons to check such crimes in the future.

Rape cases have been on the rise in Manipur, with two students also raped allegedly by members of the ZUF at Khoupum in Tamenglong district.

Numerous protests have been held all over the place to denounce the growing incidences of rape in Manipur and in many cases the victims have been young girls.