'Concealing chronic disease status prior to marriage punishable'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 14 2013: Anybody who fraudulently marries a woman by concealing the status of his chronic disease can be penalised under the law of the land, said Advocate Angom Tejkumar.

He was speaking as a resource person at an academic awareness programme jointly organised by Juvenile Club, Salam and All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) at Salam Mamang Leikai today.

The advocate said that there are numerous cases wherein HIV positive man enter wedlock by concealing his HIV status from his bride.

Such persons can be jailed according to the law of the land, he added.

Taking an instance, Tejkumar said that an IRB personnel recently married a 19-year-old girl.

After nine months the man became sick and his HIV status was revealed after blood testing.

The young woman was also later diagnosed with HIV positive, he added.

Saying that abusing of intoxicants, drugs and alcohol are the main reasons for the increasing number of crimes against women, Tejkumar said that such criminals can be put behind the bar.

Saying that even the top honchos of the Government and armed persons are involved in drug trafficking, Tejkumar observed that somebody is resorting to psychological warfare against the people of Manipur to dilute the minds of the youths by making them drug addicts.

He also called on the people of Manipur to take up necessary measures to fend off such tactics.

Awang Khunou Gram Panchayat Pradhan Th Dwijamani, AMADA president Padmini Leima, AMADA secretary general Ph Phoni and Juvenile Club Advisor Jaidev attended the function.

Narcotics Control Bureau, Regional Unit Superintendent RK Ibungosana and Dr H Angomcha also spoke at the function as resource persons.

AMADA has organised similar academic awareness programmes on 89 occasions so far.

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