Truemors
::By Robert L. Sungte::
Hardly a year has passed since 21 tribals belonging to the Hmar tribe were allegedly raped by cadres of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) militants in this remote northeastern state of India, another case of rape of a nursing housewife by armed gunmen on July 10 in Churachandpur district has brought in bitter memories of ethnic divide in that state.
Various minority tribes in a joint statement has accused the UNLF cadres again for "dishonouring" tribal women. The Kuki Students Organisation(KSO) has called for direct action by the state government to bring the culprits to book.
The KSO also asked the militant groups operating in the hill area to come out openly and admit if the crime was committed by any of their cadres. "They (militants) should come out and face the law openly as we have made a complaint with the police," KSO vice president H Richard told journalists at the RIMS, Imphal, where the victim was brought for check up.
The Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation(SIPHRO), a Delhi based human rights group expressing shock on the rape of Mrs. Lamneilhing (20) W/o Mr Seichon of T Phaijol village on July 10, said, " SIPHRO is disturbed over the growing incidence of rape and immense violation of rights, particularly of children and women in Manipur."
The irreparable damage inflicted on Mrs. Lamneilhing is a serious crime not only on women, but also on the entire humanity, Siphro said.
The UNLF, in a statement however rubbished claims that its cadres were involved. It said it was "upset by the loathsome crime."
"As a group committed to wiping out this kind of morally depraved behaviour from society, it would take necessary action to identify and punish the culprits," said a UNLF release. The UNLF pointed out that in civilized society, rape is considered the worst of crimes, and is given the harshest punishment. There is no room for bringing in narrow viewpoints of community or religion with regard to bringing the culprits responsible to justice, it said.
Even as all fingers points at the UNLF and KCP cadres for the misdeed, the UNLF reiterated that the UNLF and the KCP have nothing to hide with regard to the mass rape of 21 Hmar tribal women and the recent rape of a Kuki woman.
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