CM urged to punish rapist
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 09 2013: Civil society organisations have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding that appropriate directives to issued to authorities concerned for awarding exemplary punishment to a rape accused.

Speaking to newspersons at the Thangmeiband office of Women Action for Civic Action Kangleipak (WACAK), representatives of the JAC formed in connection with the alleged rape of a young house wife of Wangjing Hodamba Awang Leikai in Thoubal district, named the rape accused as one Soibam Somorjit Singh (40) s/o (L) S Nimai Singh from the same locality as the victim.

It is said that at around 8.30 pm on December 27 last, Somorjit dragged out the victim from her house in a gruesome manner and committed the crime.

Even though the culprit was rounded up by Thoubal police and subsequently produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thoubal two days after the criminal act, there is apprehension that investigation proceedings might be misled for the accused person is an active political worker, the representatives expressed with reference to the memorandum handed over to the CM's Secretariat.

Suggesting that the case be transferred to the CID (Crime Branch) in order to ensure impartial probe, the memorandum also highlighted that the victim, while in police custody, was not provided legal assistance and not informed about her right to representation before any question was put to her, in addition to alleging that the victim was ill-treated and threatened at the police station where she was allegedly forced to clean the toilet (latrine), wash soiled clothes and utensils.

The victim was even threatened while in police custody to admit that she had committed mistake, claimed the JAC representatives who also pointed out that the investigating officer had not visited the spot of crime.

Contending that the accused person had been attempting to settle the case by offering money to the victim, they also strongly condemned false accusations that the victim made no resistance against the amorous intention of the rapist and cited grievous injuries suffered by the victim to assert that she had indeed struggled to protect her womanly chastity.

Besides transferring the case to the CID, the CM was also urged to intervene for ensuring that statements of all the eyewitnesses are recorded in the presence of the victim's lawyer, update the victim on the progress of the investigation and for initiation of forensic examination of all relevant items in the case.

They also informed that a protest demonstration would be staged at Wangjing to denounce alleged callousness and partisan conduct of the police.

Apart from the JAC, the memorandum was jointly submitted by Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup, Kabui Mothers' Association, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur, Ching-tam United Women's Association and WACAK.

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