'Rape' victim shifted to Guwahati for eye treatment; WAD condemns
From hospital bed, girl recalls ordeal
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 14 2012: As the condition of an alleged rape victim deteriorated, opthalmologists at RIMS Hospital, where the victim was treated, have referred the patient to Sanker Dev Nethralaya Hospital, Guwahati.

The girl left Imphal for Guwahati today.

The young girl, a resident of a Nepali Basti, near Mount Everest School, Senapati, was reportedly raped by a miscreant on February 9.She was also brutally assaulted, physically.

She was admitted to RIMS hospital due to grave injury on her throat and eyes.

Her eyes' muscle and nerves have been said to be seriously affected.

Professor at the RIMS Opthalomology Department, M Seityabhama said the eyes muscles and nerves of the victim have been seriously affected.

Her left eye has become dysfunctional though a little improvement is seen in the right eye.

The doctors even suggested plastic surgery for the facial parts near the eyes.

Admitting that RIMS has no Oculoplastic Surgery facility, Prof Seityabama said the victim has been referred to Sankeradev Nethralaya Hospital, Guwahati.

The young girl at RIMS before leavig for Guwahati

In a chat with The Sangai Express on her bed at RIMS' Female Eye Ward before leaving for Guwahati, the victim recounted that on February 9 she went to herd cattle that belong to her family near Takamai village in Senapati district.

While she was attending her flock, a man, who was inside a vacated house shouted at her saying her cattles had gone astray.

When she entered the house, the man gave a blow on her eyes, knocking her unconscious.

While she was struggling with her eyes, the man raped her.

Then he grasps her neck, trying to strangulate her.

When she regained consciousness, she could not use her sight.

The victim, a class-VIII student of Taphou Junior High School, however, found it hard even to talk.

The victim's father has also aired his dismay over the incident.

He demanded that appropriate punishment should be awarded to the perpetrator of the crime.

The Gorkha Welfare Union, JAC formed in connection with the crime and several clubs have provided assistance to the victim's family in shifting her to Guwahati today.

Meanwhile, Women Action for Development (WAD) has strongly condemned the rape, brutal torture and attempted to murder of the 14-year old girl and the rape of 8-years old girl from Ngaikhong Siphai on February 12 .

In a statement, secretary of WAD Sobita Mongsatabam expressed that it takes the incidents seriously and consider it as a 'threat to survival of girls' .

Pointing out that a total of 54 cases relating to violence against women have been reported in just one and half month (the beginning of 2012), the WAD statement strongly condemned the slow action of the police in handling the cases.

It also deplored the police for its inability to book the culprits immediately.

Quoting media reports wherein the police swiftly booked a culprit in a similar rape case in neighbouring Mizoram, the WAD statement also stated that the State police need to learn a lesson from their counterparts.

It further appealed all sections of the society to cooperate in booking the culprits involved in the crimes.