U-morok seller rape case:: Lifer for all four rapists
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 25 2013: All four rapists, who were convicted by Sessions Judge, Manipur West earlier on June 12 in connection with the rape case of a woman U-morok seller from Tamenlong, have been sentenced to life imprisonment today.

The judgement has been welcomed by many as "historic" in the judicial annals of the State.

The culprits have been sentenced to life imprisonment in just about eight months' time after the incident happened on March 22, 2012 last year at Irom Meijrao in Bishnupur district.

The rapists who have been sentenced to life imprisonment are Laikhuram Rojit (28) of Porompat near JNIMS, Havildar of 1st IRB Chungkham Ibomcha alias Eigya (37) of Thongju Boroi Makhong, Rifleman of 1st IRB Kshetrimayum Kennedy alias Dungi (37) of Kongpal Chanam Leikai and Salam Bijen (38) of Uripok.

The Bishnupur Police had registered a case FIR No.32(3)2012 BPR and submitted the charge-sheet against the four rapists under section 324, 376, 392 and 34 of Indian Penal Code and under section 3(1)(2)(12) of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Lifer for all four rapists

Special Public Prosecutor Ngangom Tejkumar stood on the side of Prosecution in the case.

While pronouncing the sentence, the Judge observed that Laikhuram Rojit is the main accused in the case.

It is in evidence that at the time of committing the crime he was wearing a camouflaged jacket and a cap of security personnel and he was also armed with a pistol.

He took the leading role in the crime which took place after midnight on the State Highway inside a school compound.

Other two offenders, Ibomcha and Kennedy are serving in Manipur Police Department and they had a responsible duty as policemen to protect and preserve the property of people.

They have committed the crime acting in a manner unbecoming of police personnel and they are a disgrace to the Police Department.

The other co-accused Bjien was a willing accomplice in the crime, the Judge noted.

The victim Zangthailu is a poor agriculturalist tribal woman residing in a remote Hill village who was on her way to Imphal to sell U-morok to earn money for her poor family.

It is also in evidence that the victim was beaten and threatened with arms and robbed and forcibly kidnapped to satisfy their lust, the Sessions Judge observed.

The Public Prosecutor has also submitted that the four offenders, in spite of repeated request of the victim and by even telling them that she was like their mother, committed the heinous crime of rape.

The Prosecutor further submitted that the four offenders are guilty of committing rape on mothers.

The Judge said that evidence on record established that all four offenders had no respect for motherhood of the victim, no respect for woman and human value and did not have any care for social norms and behaviour, they acted like most degraded beast and all of them deserved exemplary punishment.

Laikhuram Rojit was found guilty under sections 328 (causing hurt mentally and physically), 369 (kidnapping), 376(2)(g) (gang rape), 392 (robbery) and 25(1-C) A Act (illegal possession of arms) of Indian Penal Code, while the other offenders were found guilty under sections 369, 376(2)(g) and 392 of Indian Penal Code.

Besides life imprisonment, they have also been directed to pay a fine of Rs.5000 each.

The fine should be deposited after the expiry of the period of appeal.

80 percent of the fine amount should be given for payment of compensation to the victim and the remaining amount would be deposited with the Nazir, District and Sessions Court, Manipur West.

The Judge has also ordered that the seized country made should be confiscated and destroyed while the seized sum of Rs.2500 and mobile handset (Rage) taken should be handed over to owners after the expiry of the period of appeal.

Meanwhile, Women Action for Development (WAD) has congratulated the victim Zangthailu Kamei, her family and community in successfully completing her case against the four rapists.

"We appreciate your courage in fighting for your right and totally deserve it.

You have become a rare example among all the survivors of different forms of violence against women who stand against all odds of such heinous crime", a statement of WAD said.

The statement signed by Sobita Mangsatabam, Secretary of WAD, further said, "We also congratulates Kabui Mothers Association, Rongmei Louphum, Meira paibi and others individuals and association for their tired less hard work standing for Zamthaliu, giving her support in terms of moral, physical and financial and guiding her in struggle for her rights and justice" .

"We further appreciate the judiciary and the police department for their timely intervention and carrying out proper investigation for providing justice to Zamthailiu and giving life time imprisonment as punishment to the accused for their deeds.

We strongly believed that our police department will continue such intervention in the near future and all those pending cases will be thoroughly intervened for providing justice to the victims.

We now believes that rule of law exist in our state," it added.

"The speedy trial and verdict of lifetime imprisonment against rapist is a landmark in the legal history of Northeast, and Manipur in particular.

Let's hope that the judgment helps in reducing the case of crime against women in the region.

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied.

Let us fight against such heinous crime to ensure justice to the people of the region", Sobita exhorted.

She also pointed out that so far 15 days have passed since the Monsoon session of the State assembly session begins, but unfortunately, the issue of increasing crime against women and children and well as the gender budget is not being discussed.

This is not fair and very unfortunate.

This is not justice to the women community of our society.

"So, we, therefore humbly appeal to all the Honorable 60 MLAs including three women MLAs to kindly put up the issue of crime against women and children in the remaining days of assembly session and passed the gender budget and initiate special mechanism to deal with such heinous crime against women in order to ensure justice to the unfortunate women and children of our society," the WAD statement added.