Manipur woman sexual assault case: MHRC directs DGP to file status report by Dec 21

The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has directed the DGP of the state to submit status report on or before December 21 regarding an alleged sexual abuse case of a woman by a female Assam Rifles personnel.

The Commission has also directed the DGP to submit a copy of the FIR and the medical report. December 21 has been fixed for proceeding in the case.

The Commission gave its direction on November 26 following a complaint petition filed by the Secretary of a NGO, Women Action for Development, regarding the case.

The incident allegedly occurred at Moreh. The complainant stated that the Moreh Police Station registered an FIR (FIR no. 19(11)2019 MRH-PS u/s 354/377 IPC and 3(1)(111) SC/ST Prevention of Atrocity Act, 1989) based on what the victim gave in writing.

It was further revealed that medical examination of the victim was conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences.

According to the complaint petition filed before the Manipur Human Rights Commission, the incident took place on November 18.

As per the affidavit of the victim submitted before the Office of the Oath Commissioner (Judicial), she left her home with a local in an Ecco van on the fateful day around 12.30 pm. She was carrying some used clothes to sell at Pallel Bazar. The victim is from a village in Moreh.

On reaching Khudengthabl Assam Rifles check post, they stopped the van for the routine checking and frisking. By the time her turn for checking came it was around 2-2.30 pm.

After showing her identity card to a male personnel, she was directed to go to the female body search area.

According to her affidavit, while the female Assam Rifles personnel was carrying out the body search, she “inserted” her finger “deep inside my private part”. The victim further revealed that the personnel was not wearing any hand gloves.

“I complained of severe pain but the said female Assam Rifles personnel did not give any heed to my complaint,” she added. She was later allowed to go.

On the way in the van, she realised that she had started bleeding but she could not share it with the van driver.

Near Lokchao area, her van was stopped again by four people (two men and two women). She was dragged out of the vehicle by the two women. The two men allegedly were holding guns.

According to her, one of the women was a non-local and spoke in Hindi which she did not understand. She alleged that the non-local woman forcibly removed her clothes after she refused to do so and then photographed her.

Subsequently, she removed the victim’s pants and photographed her naked body, the victim alleged in her affidavit. She also alleged that they claimed they were from the Assam Rifles.

She said it was almost dark. After she was made to wear her clothes, they told her that they suspected she was in possession of illegal gold pieces.

As she kept crying while denying having any gold in possession, they made her testify before a mobile camera.

On returning home, she narrated everything to her family and relatives who subsequently approached the Hill Tribal Council, Moreh for help.

As she kept complaining of abdomen pain and difficulty in passing urine and was bleeding while urinating, she was taken to Moreh hospital.

On November 19, she went to Officer-in-Charge of Moreh and on the basis of her complaint an FIR was registered.

On November 21, Moreh police took her to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Porompat, for medical examination.

In her affidavit, she said, “Later on I heard that my case was settled without my consent. At present there has been a lot of pressure on my family members from sections of people to withdraw the complaint which I had flied with the Moreh Police Station.”