Child Torture: Ukhrul wakes up, stages rally
Main accused Jim Horam arrested, sent to jail; UADC suspends son, mother
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Ukhrul, February 19 2013: Even as the main accused was arrested and sent to the jail, thousands of people walked out of their homes in Ukhrul today to join a protest rally against the recent inhuman torture meted out to a nine-year old girl child and called for befitting punishment against the alleged torturers.

On Tuesday, the public rally, which was arguably the biggest ever witnessed in Ukhrul, started at about 11am from both ends of the town - Dungrei Junction and Kharasom Junction (Luiyainaotang) and converged at Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) ground for a meeting that ended at about 2.30pm.The rally was organised by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the child torture of February 3 in Ukhrul to press for delivery of justice to the victim girl and effect immediate arrest of the absconding co-accused Edala Horam.

School children skipped classes and business establishments down their shutters to join the rally shouting slogans against the inhuman torture.

Child Torture: Ukhrul wakes up, stages rally

Rallyists marched the thoroughfares of the town wielding placards with the pictures of the main accused Jim Horam and his mother Edala.

Today's rally may be seen as an eye opener for the public in Ukhrul.

Many homes in the district employed minors as domestic help which is in total violation of child rights.

In his keynote address of the meeting, JAC convenor AC Thotso strongly condemned the inhuman act and called for befitting penal action against the accused persons.

He further appealed for effective implementation of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regular Act 1986) and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) and Rights to children for Free and Compulsory Education in Ukhrul.

On Sunday night, police made a breakthrough in arresting the main accused Jim, reportedly from one house in Ukhrul between 10-11pm.He was produced in the district court and sent to jail today.

A week after the gory torture, Andibas Horam, who is also a co-accused in the case and father of Jim was arrested by police.

However, he was released on conditional bail on February 14 .

Edala, another co-accused, has been giving a slip to the police ever since an FIR was filed at Ukhrul Police station on February 9 .

Jim and Eda, both employees of Ukhrul Autonomous District Council (UADC), have been placed suspension from their service.

To this effect, the UADC chief executive officer Luckyson issued an order (Ref.

No.1/98/ Sus/ADC/Ukl/2013) on February 18 .

On February 3, the minor girl, whose father passed away in a vehicular accident years ago and abandoned by her mother to marry another man, was mentally and physically tortured by the family of Andibas Horam.

She was living as a maid in the house since 2010 .

The victim has been inflicted with a broken collar bone on her left side, head injury, multiple bruises and various parts of her body were pierced with sharp objects.

In the public meeting at TNL ground, representatives of different NGOs and civil societies addressed on the issue and were unanimous in demanding justice for the victim girl, who is under serious trauma and suffering from major physical injuries.

The JAC comprises of District Women Committee, Naga People Movement for Human Right, Ukhrul District Alliance for Child Right, Sustainable Livelihood Forum, UDNAH, AGRIPROMCO Ltd, ELSHADAI, Guwahati Student Union, Volunteer for Village Development and Zingtun Tangkhul Katamnao Long.

JAC convenor Thotso expressed thanks to the district authorities for the prompt action and hope that fitting justice would be delivered in this case.