PIL filed against rape of innocent women by SF

Imphal, Febuary 21: Taking serious concern at the high incidence of rape of women by the security personnel with virtual impunity in Manipur, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed with the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench today by taking up the case of one Meinam Bina Devi who was raped by a personnel of 25 Assam Rifles on Oct 6, 2001 at Luwangshangbam Matai Mamang Leikai. The PIL was jointly filed by Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of Human Rights Alert and Nonibala Devi Yengkhom, co-ordinator of Human Rights Law Network (Manipur Unit). The petition strongly contended that the Assam Rifles authority had taken back the rifleman involved in the crime from the Judicial Custody (jail) on the pretext of expediting the trial and disposal of the case by a competent Court Martial under the Army Act. The rape victim herself had also appeared and identified the rapist during Court Martial in November 13, 2001, but till today no information is received from the Assam Rifles authority regarding the outcome of the Court Martial proceeding, the PIL lamented. The PIL also demanded adequate compensation to Meinam Bina Devi for deprivation of her bodily integrity and invasion of sexual freedom, mental anguish caused, expenditure incurred or likely to be incurred on rehabilitation programmes including expenditure on medical treatment, psychology counselling, etc. A division bench of the same Court is likely to hear on the PIL next week and advocate Meihoubam Rakesh is going to be the counsel oh behalf of the petitioners.