Even as the people are yet to come to terms with the sense of outrage over the torture and sexual molestation of M Naobi Chanu by police commandos, another equally shocking news is doing the round.

First it was the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur which raised the voice of protest against what it dubbed the rape of over 10 girls by cadres of a non-tribal underground outfit at Tipaimukh and Thanlon sub-divisions in Churachandpur district.

The Kuki Students' Organisation, Headquarters, followed suit and a number of women organisations including the Zomi Mothers' Association, Hmar Women Association, Kuki Women's Union and Mizo People's Convention, Women's Wing have decided to take out a protest rally against the rape of the girls at Churachandpur on March 8.

The allegation raised by the different social organisations is serious, very serious, for it is about the accusation of a mass rape and this has come at a time when the people, especially in the valley areas of Manipur, have risen as one against the sexual assault of M Naobi Chanu by police commandos.

The media, or the Imphal based newspapers, as ATSUM dubbed it, has also been accused of not doing justice to the story of rape in the interior parts of Churachandpur. We do admit that the media in Imphal has not given the same news space to the story of the mass rape in the interior parts of Churachandpur as to the story of M Naobi Chanu.

However it should also be kept in mind that the story of Naobi started hitting the headlines only after she came out in the open and recounted her tale in full view of the media. So far the reports that we have received from Churachandpur are inputs from third parties such as the ATSUM, KSO etc.

Another reason for the failure of the State media to fully cover the mass rape story is the lack of resources at the disposal of the newspaper establishments. Some of the newspapers in Imphal, including The Sangai Express have their correspondents at Churachandpur but the irony of the situation is that the news report about the alleged mass rape has not come from any of the correspondents from Churachandpur.

Why this is so is a point that may be raised at an appropriate platform.

The latest information that we have now is from the four women organisations which have planned to take out a protest rally on March 8 at Churachandpur.

According to the information from these four bodies, the story of the mass rape can be traced during the period, November 2005 and February 2006 when Tipaimukh sub-division came to be occupied by a militant organisation.

The situation is anything but comfortable. It is also significant that the militant group has been identified as a non-tribal militant organisation and this says something about the delicate nature of the issue at hand.

Whatever the case, it would be in the fitness of things to see whether the rape story can be substantiated and everyone, including the outfit towards which the finger of accusation has been pointed should investigate the veracity of the charges.

The State Government too should step in and study the situation in the interiors of Churachandpur.