Monetary offer to settle rape case!
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 26 2012: In a disastrous attempt to cool down the rising tension over the issue of rape of a student of TG Higher Secondary School, the father of film actor and singer Thongam Tarun, an accused in the case, reportedly offered Rs 20 lakhs to the victim's family to settle the matter.

In addition to offering Rs 20 lakhs to the victim's family, Th Jayenta, the father of Thongam Tarun, also made an offer of Rs 5 lakhs to a mediator.

Disclosing all these details to some select mediapersons in the presence of members of Manipur State Women Commission (MSWC) who came to visit the victim today, N Ingocha, the maternal uncle of the victim, informed that the offer was made to one Joy, an uncle of the victim while he was at RIMS on October 22 in connection with the medical examination of the victim.

However, Joy flatly refused the offer and made it clear to Jayenta that the issue cannot be settled by money, N Ingocha said.

protest underway

Meanwhile, talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, the rape victim said that she wants both the persons involved in sexually assaulting her to be eliminated from the face of the earth as their very presence would increase the number of rape victims like her in the State.

The victim is bed ridden at her home today.

With tears rolling down her cheeks, she said that the rapists should not be spared under any circumstance.

Deposing before the visiting MSWC members, an aunty of the victim pointed out that accused Tarun was very much involved in the act and her niece was gang-raped by the duo inside the restaurant after offering her some cold drinks laced with sedative.

Chairperson of MSWC Dr L Ibetombi told media persons that the Commission would help the victim in taking up necessary legal action to bring justice, and said that in this endeavour, the co-operation and support of the people would also be required so that the culprits do not get away unpunished.

Moreover, police personnel who are handling the case also need to be sincere, she added.

Meanwhile, a public meeting was held at Khurai Lai Hiden today in connection with the rape incident and a number of resolutions were adopted unanimously.

The resolutions include formation of a Joint Committee to fight for justice; launching of various intense agitations with the help of the different CSOs of the state; to dismiss the culprits from their jobs and imprison them for life; to launch poster campaign so that the rapists are made known to the public and also to stop showing of films and albums featuring Tarun.

On the other hand, an executive meeting of Apunba Manipur Matam Ishei Kanglup (AMMIK) today has terminated Tarun from being a member of the organization.