Source: The Sangai Express
Ukhrul, September 21:
Naga People�s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Ukhrul Unit and other prominent women�s organisations have rejected the verdict issued by the Ato Longphang (a customary court of Northern Tangkhuls) and Tangkhul Region, GPRN/NSCN, in a rare case where a minor girl has been accused of stealing 8016 carats of gold.
In a joint statement, Ukhrul Unit of NPMHR, president of Kamphason Shanao Long, advisor of Tangkhul Shanao Long other social organisations of Ukhrul district charged that the justice dispensed by Ato Longphang and Tangkhul Region of GRPN/NSCN was fraught with discrepancies.
A minor orphan girl identified as P Kahaowon of Hango Kaphung was accused of stealing a camera, coins, 10 pieces of gold over and above 8016 carats of gold by one K Yarchipem of Phungreitang, the master of the house where she stayed as a helper last year.
The case was initially handled by Tangkhul Region of GRPN/NSCN but later referred to the customary court.
The statement jointly released by the rights group and the women�s organsiations charged the Ato Longphang with trying to penalise the helpless orphan girl solely on the basis of the charges levelled against her by the complainant without investigating and verifying the facts.
Pointing out the alleged discrepancies in the proceeding of the case, the statement said that the girl was summoned by the chief judge of the customary court in his letterhead even before the case was actually filed by the complainant.
The deputy chief judge also imposed fine to two other relatives of the girl for not attending the courts, when the fact is that they were not given any summon letter.
The rights body and the women�s organsiations asserted that the relevant court documents were never given to the accused girl, contravening in the actual practice of serving it to both the parties and dictating the girl to plead guilty.
Without mincing words, the joint statement also charged the Tangkhul Region GPRN/NSCN with detention of the minor girls for 47 days illegally and taking statement under duress, thus again contravening the universal practice of trying by juvenile court.
The statement further alleged that the girl was subjected to physical and mental torture, while in detention and threat to life by the house owner, which is an offence in the eye of the law.
The rights body and the women�s organisations also questioned the legality of keeping 8016 carats of gold (16 kgs) by an individual.
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