Imphal, Oct. 30: The families of four rape victims, airing their grievances because of a case pending for over four years, have urged the judiciary to punish the rapist in accordance with the rule of law.
At a news conference today at Manipur Press Club here, the family members of the victims and members of the Rongmei Lu Phuam (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland), a civil society organisation, drew public attention to their demands and sought help to get justice.
The president of the Rongmei Lu Phuam, Panti Golmei, said: "The family members who did not have even a rupee came from the remotest corner of Tamenglong district to the city to register an FIR and go to the court seeking justice. The incident took place on October 7, 2012. Our girls and students of Don Bosco School, Khoupum, came to the city the next day demanding justice, but we have not got it yet."
"Our children who want to pursue higher education to make their dream come true are victimised time and again as the authorities are not taking the matter seriously and delaying the case for too long," added Golmei. "We have demanded many times that rape or sexual assault cases should be dealt with seriously and justice be delivered within six to 12 months."
"Latjanthai Malangmei, who brutally tortured our girls and raped them, is involved in shooting three Assam Rifles jawans. But he has not been punished yet. Why are the authorities not serious in case of justice? Is it because the victims are not their children?" asked Golmei.
She said it took days for the girls belonging to the Scheduled Tribe to come down from the hills to get "a little bit of help".
"They have to go back and they may not be able to come to the town . Our last resort is to find ways and means to move the Supreme Court with the help of the civil societies."
The four rape victims were aged between 12 and 16. They were kidnapped allegedly by Latjanthai Malangmei and Kamei Dibonpou who are cadres of the Zeliangrong United Front. The girls were gang raped at the chowkidars' quarters at Khoupum village.
The two militants opened fire in the air when people tried to save the girls. Dibonpou, one of the two militants, however, committed suicide by shooting himself in the head after the rape.
People overpowered Malangmei and handed him over to the police.
He is now an undertrial at Sajiwa jail.