Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 21:
The Rajkhowa Commission probing into the alleged mass rape at Lungthulien and Parbung has indefinitely put off the crossexamination of the victims scheduled to begin today at Parbung.
The postponement came after enormous pressure exerted by Human Rights Alert and Manipur Forward Youth Front.
The two contesting parties have been demanding presence of their counsels and their representatives during the cross-examination at Parbung.
Although the State Government had agreed to air lift the Commission's team comprising of the Chairman Justice (retd) SP Rajkhowa, his SPO, Commission's secretary and an interpreter, it declined to air lift 3 representatives of the two NGOs to Parbung.
Peeved with the Government's denial, HRA and MAFYF filed a representation to the State Government asking to air lift their representatives and counsels or to shift the venue of the cross examination either to Silchar, Aizawl or Jiribam so that the representatives could travel at their own expense.
Contending for the same provision, a writ petition was also filed before the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench after which the Court issued notices to the State respondents and the Commission making them returnable within three days.
Following the notice, the scheduled cross examination was adjourned until further notice by an order issued on August 19 by the Commission.