NGO Director rape case Victim's friend alleges evidence destroyed
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal

Imphal, December 23, 2013: A friend of Rita (name changed), an alleged victim of rape involving an NGO Director, confided today that evidence of rape was destroyed the day after Rita was raped.

Speaking to The Sangai Express on condition of anonymity, a friend of Rita, the rape survivor in the NGO Director case, said that the next day after the rape took place on September 13, her clothes were removed and washed when the victim was brought to the house of a lady colleague of the accused in Central Delhi.

The victim was advised on the possible consequences, financial aspects and the expected long drawn legal process, if at all legal cases were to be taken up.

"A lady emotionally blackmailed her as well and created a drama, pleading not to take up such issue" the friend said.

Boond is a recently registered NGO that received grants from Dr Anwar's NGO, Institute for Social Democracy ( ISD).

The lady is a key functionary of Boond.

The friend further narrated that the incident was first reported to the lady.

Being discouraged, the victim and her friends reported the matter to Kavita Khrishnan (National Secretary, All India Progressive Women's Association and politburo member of CPI (ML).

Kavita further verbally informed about the matter to the Board Members of the NGO-ISD.

The visual impact of it all . Pix Courtesy :: TSE

Later, Rita and her friends approached Prof Madhu Kishwar, who helped them record the statement on September 19.Upon the verbal communication from Kavita Khrishnan, ISD Board member Kalyani Menon Sen initiated an "internal" inquiry on October 26, following which the accused Director Khursid Anwar's executive power was suspended by the Board of Trustee.

The ISD board members and trustees tried to contact the victim, through her friends in Delhi and contacts even in Manipur.

A letter dated November 26 was also sent to the victim by the Board members and trustee, comprising of Mohammad Azhar, Kalyani Menon Sen Purva Bhardwaj, Jayant Kumar, Juhi Jain, Sarita Chuahan.

Reportedly some of the Board members have resigned.

Further, Rita's friends verbally discussed with members of the National Commission for Women, where they were advised to submit a written complaint on December 13, said Rita's friend.

The matter was forwarded to the police on December 14 by the Women Commission.

On asked whether she was willing to file the case, this friend stated in the affirmative that Rita was willing to file a case.

The friend did admit Rita was feeling depressed mainly due to the social stigma that comes along with any rape case.

"Until she was in Delhi she was not weak, Rita's condition both mentally and emotionally now will entirely depend on how the family supports her," said the friend.

Ever since Rita left for home in Manipur on September 23, she had only once contacted her friends in Delhi.

The initial response of the family members is not exactly known, "but now we hear, the situation is better," the friend confided to the The Sangai Express.