Women body decries assault by AR
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 09 2011: The Kangpokpi Women Welfare Organisation (KWWO) has decried the alleged barbaric assault on women agitators by personnel of 43 Assam Rifles in the night of September 6 .

According to a press release issued by the organisation, about 30 trucks escorted by 43 AR approached Sadar Hills area at about 4.30 pm of September 6 .

The AR personnel first five trucks to be their goods supplier.

But later they increased the number of trucks to 6, then to 20 and so on.

Even as the women agitators agreed to give free passage to five trucks which the AR personnel earlier claimed to be their goods suppliers, the Commanding Officer maintained that all the tucks should be let off.

This led to a prolonged negotiation and it became dark.

Taking advantage of the darkness, the AR personnel started beating the agitating women.

The women agitators, on discovering that many of the trucks were not transporting Army/AR goods, torched some trucks.

Then the AR personnel unleashed their brute force and they kicked, slapped and rifle-butted the weak and the defenceless women, alleged the organisation while adding that such conduct of the AR personnel was highly condemnable.

Their (Assam Rifles) was even more barbaric at Changoubung where the AR personnel allegedly molested young agitating women, it alleged.

Saying that one of the trucks was carrying beetel leaves, the KWWO asked whether Assam Rifles have started supplying beetel leaves taking advantage of the ongoing economic blockade.

One truck driver also confessed that they gave Rs 5000 each for escorting them.

The KWWO further appealed to the army authorities to check the conduct of AR officers in question and ascertain the authenticity of the goods transported on the said day and take punitive actions against the guilty officials who had tarnished the good image of the Indian Army.

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