Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 25:
Two human rights bodies that have petitioned for allowing cross-examination of the alleged Parbung rape victims at some 'safety' places have amended a portion of their joint writ praying to allow such examinations at Imphal only.
The amended writ petition has already been filed before the Imphal Bench of Gauhati High Court, said advocate Kh Chonjohn who is appearing on behalf of Human Rights Alert (HRA).
In the earlier main writ petition, the two human rights bodies prayed before the Court to allow cross-examination of the alleged rape victims either at Silchar, Aizawl or Jiribam so that their representatives, particularly the lawyers could travel at their own expenses.
The Justice (Retd) SP Rajkhowa Commission that began its probe into the case of alleged rape of Hmar women at by cadres of two different underground organisations at Parbung and Lungthulien in Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar in January 2006 had already recorded the statements of the alleged rape victims at the spot.
Though the probe panel fixed Parbung as the venue for cross-examination of the alleged victims including some minors, the State Government declined to airlift three representatives of the two NGOs other than the Commission team.
Advocate Chonjohn, who is also a former member of Manipur Human Rights Commission, said after considering the practical difficulties to hold such cross-examination at one of the venues other than Parbung 'we have changed the venue to Imphal only in our amended writ'.
Since the matter is pending before the High Court, the cross-examination could not be proceeded by the Commission, he added.
Mentioned may be made that some Churachandpur based NGOs are putting pressures to finalise preparation of the Rajkhowa panel report at the earliest.
Parbung PS had registered as many as 25 different FIRs in connection with the January incident.
The High Court may hear the plea of the two human rights bodies after its vacation is over, according to sources.