Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Jul 10:
Testifying before the Rajkhowa Commission which is probing the Lungthulien rape case, Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur district AK Sinha today said that he first came to know about the alleged rape of Hmar women at Lungthulien on the night of January 16 this year from newspapers reports.
'Prior to the newspaper report, I did not receive any information on the matter from the villagers concerned', the head of the district administration submitted before Justice SP Rajkhowa, retired Judge of Calcutta High Court who is heading the probe panel.
After going through the newsreport, Sinha said he discussed the matter with the SP of Churachandpur district and later decided to send the SDO and the OC to Parbung to obtain the first account of the incident.
He also reported the matter to the Government, he added.
Sinha said after the arrival of Army at the village, the general public are happy and feel secure of their lives and the Army is withdrawn the situation might become abnormal as prevailed before.
When cross-examined by the counsels appearing on behalf of Human Rights Alert (HRA), the head of the district administration said on his visit to Lungthulien and Parbung on February 13, he received a representation from the villagers as well as a report from SDO Parbung pertaining to the incident.
Giving an answer to the counsel of MAFYF, the Deputy Commissioner said there was an army post at Thanlon before January 16.Tomorrow, the Commission would examine SP Churachandpur, sources in the Panel said, adding that the probe panel is yet to take a definite decision on selection of the venue where the alleged rape victims would be crossed examined by lawyers of MAFYF and HRA.
The Commissioner, however, had examined earlier the supposed rape victims during its earlier sittings at Lungthulien and Parbung.
Mention may also be made that a member of the National Commission for Women, who visited the village had also examined the alleged victims and accordingly prepared a report on the matter.