Tension grips Khoupum after rape by UG cadres
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 06 2012:
A tense situation has gripped Khoupum area of Tamenglong district following alleged rape of two school-going girls by cadres of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) .
Meanwhile, Home Minister Gaikhangam conveyed that the State Government has been consulting with the army authorities about the measures which would be taken up to tackle the situation effectively.
Sources said that the two ZUF cadres opened fire indiscriminately in inebriated condition at Tousemjang village, about 2.5 Kms East of Khoupum police station last night.
Apart from threatening the villagers, the militants also raped two girls.
Following the incident, the two ZUF cadres faced harsh castigation and they were staring at the possibility of expulsion from the outfit.
At this, one of the accused cadre shot himself to death while the other fled away.
It is reported that ZUF cadres have been searching for their fled away comrade.
On the other hand, troops of 6/8 GR have taken positions to confront any UG cadres running out from their hide-outs.
Till the time of filing this report, the villagers have been resisting any move to take away the corpse of the cadre who had killed himself.
Notably, one civilian was killed in another shoot-out between ZUF and NSCN-K on one side and NSCN-IM on the other on October 2 at Tamenglong district headquarters.
In the aftermath of the incident, people of Tamenglong district decreed that no militant cadre/group should operate in the district.
They also slapped a fine of Rs 90 lakhs on the three UG outfits.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Gaikhangam has affirmed that the two girls were raped after threatening the villagers.
The report about rape of two girls who are reading under class IX by ZUF cadres was received this morning.
The ZUF cadres threatened the villagers by firing around 50 rounds of shots.
Confirming that one of accused ZUF cadre had killed himself while the other ran away, the Home Minister informed that the two girls were raped after forcibly taking them into a road-side hut.
Stating that the aggrieved villagers are strongly protesting the criminal act whereas ZUF cadres have been firing indiscriminately, the Home Minister admitted that a tense situation has gripped the area.
Moreover, army personnel posted in the nearby areas are unable to make much headway in their efforts to reach the conflict zone.
Taking serious note of the unfolding situation, the State Government has been consulting army authorities about possible security measures, Gaikhangam stated.
As the corpse of the ZUF cadre who killed himself needs post mortem and other formalities, the Tamenglong SP has been instructed to move into Tousemjang village, he added.
On the other hand, ZUF information and publicity secretary A Gangmei, talking to TSE maintained that the two cadres who opened fire and threatened Khoupum villagers were deserters.
Gangmei identified the two deserters as Gigonpou of Ramgaijang, NC Hills, Assam and Lajenbung of Noney.
It was these two deserters who opened fire indiscriminately in inebriated state at Khoupum.
They turned to any one who tried to intervene and in the process two villagers sustained minor injuries.
They were rounded up and held captive by the village womenfolk for a long time even as some villagers tried to lead them away.
Later the duo were freed and they quarrelled against each other on the way.
In the course of the dispute, Gigonpou shot dead Lajenbung and fled away.
Maintaining that both the deserters were anti-Zeliangrong, Gangmei said that Gigonpou would be hunted down and awarded befitting punishment.
Claiming that they too can sense the insecurity and grief felt by villagers, Gangmei appealed to the villagers to stay alert as the deserter was armed.
The information and publicity secretary announced that rewards would be given to any one who can provide information about the whereabouts of the fled-away accused.
For both the accused had already deserted the party, the party is not responsible for their activities.
On being enquired about the report of rape of two girls by the two cadres, Gangmei maintained that the duo used some women as shield at gun point to protect themselves.
There is no report of any rape, he added.
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