Imphal, July 15: Firmly asserting that the culprits behind the rape of a housewife at Churachandpur should be given fitting punishment, UNLF however cautioned against anyone trying to interpret the incident in a communal tone.

Stating that the UNLF and its cadres had nothing to do with the ugly incident, the outfit in a statement said that rape is one of the most detestable crimes and added that as an organisation which has also stood against crimes on women, UNLF will try its best to unmask the rapists.

Today there are many countries where the most severe form of punishment is given to rapists and added that there is no ground to view such crimes along ethnic, communal and religious lines.

As such it is imperative for all the people of Manipur to take a united stand against such crimes and mete out fitting punishment to the perpetrators of such criminal acts.

No opportunities should be given to the common enemy to drive a wedge amongst the different communities of the State, it added.

Referring to the allegations of mass rape at Parbung and Lungthunlien in 2006, the outfit said that they are still disappointed that such allegations were raised against them and the KCP cadres.

Setting the record straight, the statement said that in 2001 MPA signed an MoU with the HPC (D) and all possible help including arms were given to the HPC (D) by the UNLF.

It then questioned, why the HPC (D) started training its guns on the UNLF cadres and the possible reasons are still being studied, added the statement.

The cadres of UNLF and KCP had an excellent rapport with the Hmar people there and to get to the bottom of the matter, the UNLF had even suggested that the service of the International Committee of Red Cross Society be roped in to carry out an independent probe.

The three cadres slain at Bamdiar have been named as the possible rapists, said UNLF but added that this should not be associated with the organisations or the community to which they belonged to.

Explaining its stand, UNLF said that whatever crime the three committed was against the accepted norms and practices of the organisation and community they belonged to.

To be enable to protect the dignity and honour of women, it is necessary that no narrow communal interpretation is given to any crimes committed against any women, it added.

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