Asian Centre for Human Rights

Subject: Complaint against molestation, sexual harassment and attempt to rape of two minor girls, Ms Forest Gate (14 years) and Ms Gangte Veng (15 years) from Churachandpur by the jawans of 6th Manipur Rifles posted at the complex of Gauhati High Court Bench at Imphal, Manipur on 16 August 2003

Dear Justice Anand,

I am writing to seek intervention of the National Human Rights Commission against attempt to rape of two minor girls, Ms Forest Gate and Ms Gangte Veng from Churachandpur by some jawans of 6th Manipur Rifles posted at the complex of Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench. The girls were forcefully abducted at gun point from the gate of the court to the court room number 2 on 16 August 2003. The victims were passing through the gate along with two married women and a small girl.

One of the persons who was with the girls managed to escape from the Manipur Rifles and informed the police and media persons immediately.

Narrating the horrifying incident to the media persons who rushed to the court complex on receiving complaint, the two girls said that they were forced into the court complex while they were walking on the road.

They were forced into the complex at gun point and the two jawans tried to rape both the girls. The jawans even threatened to shoot them if they declined to submit to their whims and at the same time began to harass them physically.

The two victims further narrated that upon their denial to the Jawan's demand, the securitymen forced the girls to perform fellatio. On further denial, the jawans resorted to other forms of sexual harassment and started to rough up one of the victim.

The whole incident took place at a sofa near the dock of the Court Room Number 2.

On reaching the Court gate, media persons called out the sentry. When no one responded to the call of the media men, they heard cries of the two girls from inside the courtroom. When enquired about the presence of the two girls inside the court premises, the Manipur Rifles jawans informed the media persons that the girls were just passing the court complex from inside. However the two girls rejected the Manipur Rifles personnel claim and added that the personnel abducted them from the gate and tried to rape them.

Later police personnel reached the spot and recorded the statement of the two girls and the two jawans. SDPO L Ibopishak and OC Imphal police Mr Jotin studied the incident and took the two girls along with them and registered a case.

The jawans also tried to rape the married woman. At the time of the incident Mr Thongam Amu was supposes to be on sentry duty. the commander has been identified as N Jugindro.

It is shameful that the jawans who are guarding the temple of justice, resort to such barbaric molestation, sexual harassment and attempt to rape minors.

I shall be grateful if the NHRC could kindly intervene in the case by taking the following measures:

- Direct the State Government of Manipur to suspend all the Manipur Riles jawans including Mr Thongam Amu and N Jugindro who were supposed to have been on duty at the Guwahati High Court, Imphal Bench premises;

- Direct the State Government of Manipur to inform the NHRC as to the action being taken against the culprits;

- Direct the State Government of Manipur to take all necessary measures to prosecute the culprits and submit quarterly periodic reports to the NHRC about the progress of the case;

- Direct the State Government of Manipur to pay exemplary compensation of Rs 1,00,000 (one lakh) each to the victim and that the same be recovered from the Manipur Rifles jawans; and

- Take any other measures that the NHRC deems fit

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely

Suhas Chakma
Director