Sadar Hills women petition Union Defence Minister
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 02 2011: Barely 24 hours after the Army spokesman refuted the allegations that troops of 43 Assam Rifles launched a crackdown and assaulted and molested womenfolk who were enforcing the highway blockade At Gamgiphai on August 31, the Sadar Hills Women Union has forwarded a petition to the Union Defence Minister seeking an Army Court of Inquiry against two Majors of the unit.

The highway blockade was put up in connection with the ongoing agitation to upgrade Sadar Hills to the status of a full fledged district.

In the petition forwarded to the Defence Minister, the women body alleged that Major Bhavish of 43 Assam Rifles and Major Ashish Dubey of Kangpokpi post of the same unit abused and molested the chastity of the womenfolk and rained blows on them.

Major Dubey also threatened the president of Kuki Inpi, Manipur (Sadar Hills) with dire consequences, alleged the Union.

Giving details, the women union said that two jawans of the 43 Assam Rifles attached to the Motbung post were headed towards Sekmai.

When the womenfolk, enforcing the blockade asked them to identify themselves, the two jawans went back to their camp and came to the spot with a team under the command of Major Bhavish.

The AR troops started abusing and molesting the womenfolk, alleged the petition besides beating them up without any provocation.

Infuriated over the rude behaviour of the Assam Rifles troops, the womenfolk retaliated and managed to over power them.

They were then asked to explain their action, said the petition.

On the other hand, another team of Assam Rifles troops led by Major Ashish Dubey of the same unit but attached with the Kangpokpi post appeared at the scene and threatened the president of Kuki Inpi, Manipur, (Sadar Hills) with dire consequences.

The troops also gun butted everyone present at the place.

Asserting that the two officers behaved in a manner which cast a smirch on the image and honour of the Indian Army, the Sadar Hills Women Union urged the Union Defence Minister to set up an Army Court of Inquiry against them.

The womenfolk of Sadar Hills view the incident seriously, said the petition and demanded fitting action against the two officers.

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