Naga students demand capital punishment for rapist

::By Robert Lalmalsawm::

The Nagas and the Kukis who had fought bitter inter-tribe war in the early 90s' this time has come together to jointly condem the " heinous crime" allegedly committed by militants of a majority community based in the Imphal valley of Manipur. The All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has come in support of the Kukis this time as they demand for justice to the rape victim.

ANSAM in a statement issue on Saturday demanded capital punishment for those involved in the July 10 rape of a 20-year old woman in Churachandpur district of Manipur.

Lamneilhing Haokip, a mother of two children and wife of Seichon Haokip of T Phaizol village was raped in her jhum-hut by some gunmen in front of her two children. The Kuki Students Organisation(KSO) has given a five-day deadline to the government which expires on July 15 to book the persons involved. 

"It is not only inhuman, but heinous and condemnable by every individual and organization from every community," ANSAM said.  

Stern measure: The KSO has also threatended to take up stern measures in the event of the failure of the state government to book and punish the culprits. No cases has been file to bring the culprits to book so far.

In a press statement, it said the valley based militants have been following a policy of systematic annihilation of the tribals from the state by various tactics like raping their women, planting landmines in the areas of their habitations and other forms of tortures.

The KSO also said it does not have anymore faith in the state government's sincerity to deliver justice to the victim as the government has not done anything to bring to justice the culprits involved in the mass rape of 21 Hmar tribal girls in Tipaimukh sub division of the same district a year ago.