2006 Hmar Women Rape Case
Dates set for Parbung hearing:
Imphal, Feb 2: The Rajkhowa Commission has intimated Human Rights Alert (HRA) and Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF) to depute their respective representatives for a hearing on the Parbung/Lungthulien case which is slated for February 18 and 19 in Imphal.
In connection with the alleged rape of 21 Hmar women in Parbung and Lungthulien areas of Churachandpur district bordering Mizoram in 2006 by cadres of two UG groups, HRA and MAFYF had approached the Rajkhowa Commission for cross examination of the victims with the probe panel consequently conveying to the petitioners on the hearing dates, said Commission sources on Saturday.
Responding to the strong protest by Hmar civil societies and other NGOs on the incident Government of Manipur had in March 2006 instituted the probe panel under Justice (Retd) SP Rajkhowa with the Commission members visiting the villages concerned to record statements of the victims, witnesses including village chiefs and police officials of police station concerned.
The HRA and MAFYF on their part had petitioned for cross examination of the alleged victims so as to ensure unbiased report by the probe panel in addition to filing a writ petition before the Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High Court seeking a directive to facilitate cross examination either at Churachandpur district headquarters, Silchar sub-division of Assam or at Imphal citing certain constraints.
Mention may be made that a team of the Commission headed by its Chairman had recently proceeded to Parbung for the said hearing but counsels of the two rights' bodies did not move there.
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Feb 2: The Rajkhowa Commission has intimated Human Rights Alert (HRA) and Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF) to depute their respective representatives for a hearing on the Parbung/Lungthulien case which is slated for February 18 and 19 in Imphal.
In connection with the alleged rape of 21 Hmar women in Parbung and Lungthulien areas of Churachandpur district bordering Mizoram in 2006 by cadres of two UG groups, HRA and MAFYF had approached the Rajkhowa Commission for cross examination of the victims with the probe panel consequently conveying to the petitioners on the hearing dates, said Commission sources on Saturday.
Responding to the strong protest by Hmar civil societies and other NGOs on the incident Government of Manipur had in March 2006 instituted the probe panel under Justice (Retd) SP Rajkhowa with the Commission members visiting the villages concerned to record statements of the victims, witnesses including village chiefs and police officials of police station concerned.
The HRA and MAFYF on their part had petitioned for cross examination of the alleged victims so as to ensure unbiased report by the probe panel in addition to filing a writ petition before the Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High Court seeking a directive to facilitate cross examination either at Churachandpur district headquarters, Silchar sub-division of Assam or at Imphal citing certain constraints.
Mention may be made that a team of the Commission headed by its Chairman had recently proceeded to Parbung for the said hearing but counsels of the two rights' bodies did not move there.
Source: The Sangai Express