Sans Govt help, victim just exists !
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 11 2023: Even after more than four months, a Meitei woman gang-rape victim has not been provided monetary assistance, revealed a petition filed with the Manipur Human Rights Commission today.

The woman, hailing from Churachandpur, was gang-raped by "Kuki miscreants" on May 3, the day violence first erupted.

ATSUM had organised a "Solidarity March" in all tribal inhabited areas on May 3.While the "Solidarity March" was peaceful in all Naga dominated districts, violence erupted in Churachandpur, a Kuki dominated district.

Notably, a Zero FIR filed with the police said the woman was gangraped/sexually assaulted by "Kuki miscreants" at around 6.30 pm of May 3, a day before two Kuki women were paraded nude by a group of miscreants.

As per the complaint which resulted in the filing of the Zero FIR on August 9, "Kuki miscreants" started burning down the victim's house and her neighbours house in a locality in Churachandpur in the afternoon, and people started fleeing for their lives.

The victim carried her niece on her back and held the hands of her two sons and started running for their lives along with her sister-in-law, who was also carrying a baby on her back.

Half a kilometre away from her place, she stumbled and fell down on the road.

Her sister-in-law came back running and picked up her niece from her back and ran along with her sons as she insisted.

The complaint said when she managed to get up, "some 5-6 Kuki miscreants" got hold of her and forcefully pinned her down.

The men started sexually assaulting her and some more "Kuki miscreants" joined, following which she lost consciousness.

The victim did not disclose the incident to save her family's honour and dignity, and to avoid social ostracism for a long time.

Meanwhile, the petition claimed that while the two women who were paraded nude by a group of miscreants have been provided monetary compensation, the woman victim has not been given the same assistance.

In the case of the two women, the Government of Manipur had announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and the same was handed over to the victims by the Governor at a relief camp at Churachandpur on July 30, said the petition.

There are several schemes framed by various authorities of the Government of India and the Government of Manipur.

However, the Meitei woman victim who is taking shelter in a Government run institution has not been given any assistance, said the petition.

Payment of interim compensation to the woman rape victim is highly required for allowing the victim to avail necessary medical treatment as well as psycho-support and other necessary services.

However, due to negligence on the part of the authority of the Government, the woman victim is deprived of monetary assistance, said the petition, seeking the Manipur Human Rights Commission's intervention.

The petition sought the Commission to enquire into the facts and circumstances leading to the denial of monetary assistance/compensation to the woman victim, and to direct the authority to release adequate compensation at the earliest.

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