Young girl molested on Christmas eve, three arrested
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 26 2012: Even as the State is reeling under a series of agitation against the December 18 incident where-in film actress Momoko was molested, abused and assaulted by a senior functionary of the NSCN (IM), a young girl was molested at Napetpalli under Lamlai police station on December 24 evening.

Acting swiftly, the police have arrested three persons in connection with the case.

identity of the three have been revealed as Tensubam Amitkumar Meitei alias Amit alias Naocha (21) s/o Lamphel, Ngangom Chandra (21) s/o Prem and Khaidem Sanahal alias Bungo s/o Joytomba, all from Napet village localities.

Chandra is a hard-core cadre of KCP (City Meitei) and an FIR case was registered at Lamlai police station on his arrest in July this year, said SP of Imphal East while informing that the court has advice medical test on Sanahal as the co-accused is suspected to be under-age.

While Sanahal was rounded up from his Napet Mayai Leikai the other two were held shortly after the December 24 incident, added Romanus.

The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur has strongly condemned the incident and demanded fitting punishment of the three culprits.

According to sources, the incident occurred at about 6.20 pm of December 24 when a group of 13 students was heading towards Risophung village in Senapati district on foot for Christmas celebration.

Protest demonstration at Risophung village against the molest

Three members of the gang accosted the group of young students at Napet Chingol on the way between Napetpalli and Maphou Dam.

The 13 students comprised of seven girls and six boys and they are studying in different institutions in Imphal.

One of the students, Ashamla Siro (22) said that they were heading for their homes when the three men came out of a green house located at Chingol and accosted them.

"At Lamlong too, two young boys were beaten up by unidentified persons, while we were on our way home," she said.

The three men identified themselves as cadres of the KCP and said that they had come to enforce the bandh.

The boys were then separated from the girls, she said.

The three then took away all our mobile phones and switched them off, besides taking away Rs 2500 from us, she added.

Then one of them, who identified himself as self styled colonel of the KCP, dragged away one of the girls, aged just 15, by the hair towards the barren paddy field, she recounted.

The man not only slapped the young girl, but also tore here clothes and molested her, said Ashamla and added that aged just 15, by the hair towards the barren paddy field, she recounted.

The man not only slapped the young girl, but also tore here clothes and molested her, said Ashamla and added that he also tried to rape her.

After the young girl raised a hue and cry, the three hooligans then took to their heels, said the young student.

Meira paibis from Nongren ultimately rescued them later in the evening, said Ashamla and added that the women folk reported the matter to Lamlai police.

Acting swiftly on the report, the police managed to arrest the three culprits the same night itself.

The arrested persons have been identified as Ngangom Chandrasing son of (L) Prem, Tensubam Amit Kumar son of Lamphel and Khaidem Sanahal son of Joytombi.

All three are from Napet villages and they are all in the age group of 21-22 and Lamlai police have registered a case against them.

Sources said that Chandrasing was at one point of time a cadre of the KCP.

Strongly protesting the incident, members of 10 Shanao Long (Women groups) staged a sit-in-demonstration today at Risophung.

Speaking to reporters, one of the participants, Phungamla (48) said they strongly protest the December 24 incident.

Demanding stiff punishment of the culprits, she also asked the Government to crack down on such criminal gangs.

Premna Jajo, another participant at the protest demonstration said that as a woman she condemns the assault and molestation of Momoko.

Likewise the molestation and attempt to rape a young student at Napet on December 24 evening should be strongly condemned.

This incident has polluted the Christmas spirit, she asserted.

Womenfolk from Laikoiching, Shopleng, Upper Island, Lower Island, Nongdam, Leishiphung, Risophung, Louphong, New Salem and Happy Land took part in the protest demonstration.

Meanwhile coming out strongly against the molestation and rape attempt of the young girl, DESAM has urged the State Government to punish the three culprits fittingly.

In a statement, DESAM said that its representatives went to Risophung village today and met the headmen and members of the JAC and assured them of all help in to coming days.

The student body has also appealed to all the people not communalise any issue.