NGO Director rape case : MSAD demands penalty of vigilantes for racist comments
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 29 2013: The Manipur Students' Association, Delhi (MSAD) has urged the Delhi Police, NCW and Human Rights Commission to take proper cognizance of the fact that some of the vigilantes speaking on the rape case involving an NGO director have been continuously making racist and gender remarks against the complainant/victim.

Raising strong objection to the fact that the provision of rape-shield has not been made for the complainant/victim in the case, a statement issued by MSAD President, Chinglen Khumukcham has demanded punishment to all those involved in character assassination or else the MSAD would approach higher authorities including the police, and push for stringent action against the compromising of a free and fair trial if the vilification of the complainant continues.

Recently a woman from Manipur working for the NGO, Boond, alleged that she was raped by an NGO activist, Khurshid Anwar, on the September 12, 2013 .

The complaint came to light when a video recording was taken and circulated in social media reportedly without the consent of the complainant, which has caused unnecessary politicising, ie negative intervention in the case by those with vested interests.

After the accused committed suicide on December 18, certain persons are undertaking activities which amount to intimidation and vilification of the complainant, the MSAD said.

"It is quite evident to the larger Manipuri community and MSAD that the complainant has not been guided and counselled satisfactorily.

"This has unfortunately allowed for her victimisation, and has made a free and fair trial increasingly difficult.

According to MSAD, for a free and fair trial all the people who were involved in the case and its reporting to the NCW should be properly investigated and also cautioned from communicating their personal views in the media to the detriment of the complainant and without acquiring proper consent from her," it said.

Expressing strong belief that for a fair trial the Delhi Police should seriously look into the matter of intimidation and vilification of the victim, the MSAD statement further raised objection to the fact that the provision of rape-shield has not been made for the complainant so far � a measure that the Police should compulsorily take before and during the trial in order to prevent character assassination.

The Police, in particular, should take cognizance of such unwanted interference in the case, it demanded.

Saying that since a free and fair trial requires conformation of proper judicial process, it further appealed to all concerned to desist from undue intervention in the judicial process.

"MSAD is keeping a close vigil on the developments of the case, and if the investigation process fails to be objective we will not hesitate from taking an active intervention and to resort to all possible democratic means so that due judicial process can be pursued," it warned.

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