ZUF men including rape accused held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 21 2012:
In a major breakthrough, troops of Red Shield Division have cracked the alleged Khoupum rape case of four minor girls while simultaneously denting the organisational structure of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), said a PIB (DW) statement.
Recounting that on october 5, four girls of the Khoupum Valley studying in Don Bosco School at Gaidimjang village under Khoupum sub-division were allegedly raped while returning home from the school by two inebriated ZUF cadres, the statement claimed to have arrested one of the accused person from a Bishnupur district area.
SS Pvt Latjanthai Malangmai of Noney and SS L/Cpl Gigonpou of Ramgaijang, NC Hills, Assam state allegedly defected from the ZUF camp in Khoupum and moved to Tousemjang where they allegedly raped four girls at gunpoint.
Following the incident, the two ZUF cadres quarrelled over the detained girls, which resulted in the killing of SS L/Cpl Gigonpou at the hands of Latjanthai.
Latjanthai later fled from the Khoupum Valley in a commandeered vehicle towards Pinjang.
On october 6, while escaping from the Khoupum Valley, Latjanthai was intercepted by troops of Red Shield Division at Pinjang.
However, he managed to escape the fire fight after injuring two Army Jawans.
A massive and concerted manhunt was launched by the Red Shield Division in coordination with Bishnupur police and Imphal West commandos, which resulted in the arrest of Latjanthai from Chininkhol village of Bishnupur District.
The Individual was further handed over to Bishnupur Police.
The continued domination of the Khoupum Valley by troops of Red Shield Division thereafter resulted in arrest of two more ZUF cadres, namely Alung (SS Sgt Maj) of Habnagarjan, Dimapur, Assam and SS Lt (Chaplain/religious teacher) Adon of Sonpron, Tamenglong on October 20 from Taoringpung village of Khoupum Valley who were in possession of a hand grenade and a 7.65 mm pistol with a magazine.