Imphal, January 16: Retired District and Session Judge C Upendra Singh in his report has observed that school girl Nandeibam Sanjita Devi of Jiribam was raped by personnel of 12 Grenadiers on October 4, 2003 and fearing the social stigma attached to a rape victim committed suicide on the same day.

The State Cabinet had on January 12 discussed the probe report and decided to table the same on the floor of the House.

The rape of the girl was established on the medical report and statement spelt out by the victim to her mother Thoibi Devi and elder sister Nomita minutes before she committed suicide, said a highly placed source.

The report quoting the statements given by Sanjita to her mother and elder sister said that after collecting the key of the door of the rest house from her brother-in-law Rajendro, she (Sanjita) opened the door of the same for keeping the food meant for her father and others who were working at a rubber farm nearby.

At the same time, two army personnel belonging to the 12 Grenadiers with sophisticated weapons followed her and entered the same room on the pretext of drinking water.

Taking advantage of her being alone in the room, she was raped by the two at gun point in succession gagging her mouth to muffle her cries, the report added.

Thereafter the two rapists moved out from the room hurriedly on the road as if nothing had happened.

In his recommendation, the retired Judge said, "It is very sad to note that crimes against women more particularly sexual harassment committed by Indian armed forces are rapidly increasing in a State like ours".

It also observed that the army personnel deployed in the State have failed to see Manipur as a part of India and its inhabitants as their brothers and sisters.

If the army personnel follow the instructions issued by the army headquarters and authority in letter and spirit, such unfortunate incidents would not have occurred at all, said the report adding that it is very unfortunate that the commander of the particular patrol party has failed to admit to the heinous crime committed by his two troopers.

The recommendation as suggested above are not intended to be exhaustive but contain only the bare essential of what are required to do for preventing such incident in the future, the probe report further said.

Body appeals: Expressing deep concern over the State Government's inordinate delay in releasing the funds sanctioned for implementation of the ICDP projects in Imphal East, West and Ukhrul districts, the ICDP Selected Beneficiaries CS Union Ukhrul district has appealed to Chief Minister O Ibobi to look into the matter and redress the woes of the beneficiaries.

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