Imphal, November 08 2009: A group of 67 women leaders across various ethnic communities in Manipur has demanded that IIT doctorate scholar Pushpam Kumar Sinha who attempted to rape and later murdered 19 year-old Tangkhul girl from Manipur, Ramchanphy Hongray by at Munirka village in New Delhi on October 24 last be booked at the earliest and punished, as well as adequate compensation to Ramchanphy's parents and family members.

Condemned the recent rape attempt and murder in a memorandum sent recently to the President Pratibha Patil, the women leaders expressed that the incident should not be seen as a case in isolation.

"Rather it reflects the deep-rooted and widespread bias of mainland Indians against the people of the northeast," it said.

Copies of the memorandum were sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi CM Sheila Dixit and Manipur CM O Ibobi as well as the national and state human rights and women commissions.

The women leaders came up with the memorandum after minutely discussing the frequent exploitation and ill-treatment of northeastern people in various parts of India during a two-day Women Leaders' Meet organized by the Women Committee of the United NGOs Mission Manipur (UNMM) at DSSS, Mantripukhri (Manipur) premises on October 28-29, 2009 .

Stating that this is not the first case of rape, molestation or exploitation of young people from the northeast in mainland India, the women leaders cited cases of rape, harassment and exploitation of northeastern people in major cities of the country particularly in New Delhi due to the difference in their facial features, culture and tradition.

"They are treated as second class citizens.

This is against the very ethics and stand of independent and secular India as the Indian Constitution is based on the equality of all its citizens regardless of the diversity of race, religion, cultures and traditions," the memorandum reads.

Denouncing the failure of the Indian Constitution to protect its citizens from the northeast as well as the failure of the Delhi Government to protect the northeastern citizens in its soil, the memorandum further questioned the statement of the Delhi Police that Pushpam was a "pervert and mentally deranged person".

The memorandum also questioned how could a prestigious institute like the IIT which is very strict about allowing admission to only the brightest and most brilliant minds in the country have allowed a "mentally deranged" person like Pushpam to enroll in its doctoral course? .

The memorandum which was signed by the 67 women leaders from nine districts of Manipur also appealed for intervention in initiating a change in the mindset of the people of mainland Indians towards the northeastern people as continuation of the derogatory and ill-treatment of northeastern youths in metropolitan cities of India "will only serve to further alienate the people of the region".

The memorandum also questioned how could a prestigious institute like the IIT which is very strict about allowing admission to only the brightest and most brilliant minds in the country have allowed a "mentally deranged" person like Pushpam to enroll in its doctoral course? .

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