Rape convicts Tarun, William get 15 years jail term
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 11 2013: Convicted of raping a class XII TG Higher Secondary School girl last year, the court of Sessions Judge Imphal East today sentenced singer-actor Thongam Tarun s/o Th Jayanta of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai and commando personnel Yumnam William s/o (L) Y Deben of Khagempali Pankha to 15 years imprisonment, amid strong protest outside the Cheirap court premises in Uripok with atleast four of the protestors reportedly injured.

Having found the duo guilty of committing the crime yesterday, Sessions Judge A Guneswar today announced the period of imprisonment along with slapping a fine Rs 70,000 each on them.

Interacting with newspersons after the proclamation, Director (Prosecution) Ngangom Tejkumar explained that the Judge charged Tarun and William under IPC Section 376(2)(G) (Gang rape) entailing penalty of Rs 25,000, payable within the imprisonment period failing which the prison term would be extended by three more years.

Cops controlling the crowd

The convicted persons, also charged under IPC 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy) necessitating 10 years jail sentence, have been asked to pay Rs 10,000 or remain confined for two more extended period.

Moreover, Social Welfare Department has been asked to extend Rs 1.5 lakh assistance to the victim girl under the Rape Victim Scheme.

Referring to the incident of outraging the girl's modesty occurring at a fast food joint along the Tulihal Airport road, Tejkumar said that the Government of Manipur has been directed by the Court to monitor activities and ensure restaurants strictly comply with prescribed rules and regulations.

Informing that Tarun and William have already completed 417 days in jail and as such the total sentence term would be commuted accordingly, the Director hoped that today's quantum of punishment would serve as a warning to individuals with criminal intention to think twice before committing such a crime.

Referring to the sentencing of the convicted duo to remind all concerned that sooner or later the law will take its own course of action against criminals, he further called upon the general public to abstain from resorting to mob trial or mob justice.

Suggesting that the victim or his/her representative do the needful for ensuring charge-sheet is filed for the particular case, Tejkumar said cooperation of the general public would be helpful in ensuring the guilty are punished in an expeditious manner.

Even as the Judge was in the process of announcing the term of sentence JAC activists, friends and family members of victim raised slogans that quantum of punishment should not be less than life imprisonment.

As the commotion threatened to go out of hand when the convicted persons were brought out of the Court police baton charged the protestors resulting in minor injury suffered by atleast four persons and a female protestor alleging that one of the police personnel snatched her gold chain during the melee.

While the injured have been identified as Ngasam Surjitchandra (22), Toijam Sunibala (30), Konthoujam Surbala (33) and Laishram Kiran Devi (30) all relatives of the victim.

Among the injured, surjitchandra is said to have been hospitalised with injuries in the facial portion, particular the right eye.

the lady who claimed to have lost her gold chain identified self as Ngasam Debala (27) from Kongpal.

Arrival of police reinforcement led by Imphal West OC managed to bring the situation under control.

Disagreeing with the sentence term against Tarun and William, Universal Mothers' Organisation president N Sorojini questioned whether there are separate laws for victims of Manipur and New Delhi.

When those convicted of raping a medical student in New Delhi are staring at death sentence why should there be leniency against Tarun and William, she said.

Tarun and William were found guilty of raping the girl student at a fast food joint in Changangei Uchekon area on October 20, 2012 .

Speaking to newspersons at AMSU head office later in the afternoon, JAC convenor Khaidem Angangcha vehemently condemning the police crackdown declared that protest campaigns would be launched from December 13 if suitable action is not taken against the guilty police personnel.

Contending that family members of the convicted persons had approached the victim's family and offered money as a compromise, the convenor said 15 years prison term do not reflect devilish intention and brutality of Tarun and william.