Imphal West tops in rape cases
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 27 2013: The incident of crimes against women in Manipur has been increasing with Imphal West district accounting for the highest number of rape accused and victims.

According to information culled by Hueiyen Lanpo, even if all the cases that were reported to the Forensic Medicine Department of RIMS for medical examination since 2007 are not cases of rape, many of them were confirmed as rape with clear evidences.

Out of the 108 medico legal cases reported in 2007, 15 were confirmed rape.

In 2008, 82 cases were reported, out of which 11 were confirmed as rape.

In 2009, 11 rape cases were confirmed out of the total 53 cases reported for medical examination.

In 2010, in all 147 cases were reported but 28 were confirmed as rape.

In 2011, 40 cases of rape were confirmed out of 173 medico legal cases reported and in 2012, 43 cases were confirmed as rape out of the total 251 cases reported for medical examination.

In the current year, the department has so far received 200 medico legal cases but the exact number of rape cases has not yet been confirmed.

Among the nine districts of the district, the highest number of accused (28) and rape victims (33) has come from Imphal West followed by Thoubal district with 22 accused and 27 victims.

Imphal East is in the third place with 21 accused and 22 victims.

Most of the rape cases in Manipur have taken place either in road side restaurants and hotels, and the victims are normally in the age group of 10 to 20 years.

So, 80 percent of the rape victims are students.

Of the medico legal cases reported for medical examinations at RIMS, there are also many cases which could not be confirmed as rape as the evidences have already been destroyed.

This is mainly due to lack of awareness among the victims and their family members.

Medical tests conducted within 3 to 4 hours of the crime could give the best results.

But in Manipur, the victims are normally brought for medical examination after a day or two.

It is also essential for the victims not to wash their undergarments and brought the same for examination during medical test to confirm rape.

The victims should also not cut their finger nails as evidences of the crime from the nail clippings could be lost.

Among the different types of rape occurring in Manipur, death rape in which the victim is first made to lost consciousness by offering drinks laced with sedatives is becoming a new trend in Manipur.

Victims of death rape should come for medical examination before going to toilet or releasing their urine as the sedatives used in lacing their drinks by the rapists could be known from the examination of the urine.

But in Manipur, most victims come for medical examination after taking bath or washing away the stains on their undergarments.

This should not be done.

Comment