IMPHAL, October 22: The incident of date rape has remained mostly unreported due to fear of stigmatization and threat meted to the victims.
The spurt of sexual violence is reportedly on the rise in the State and the perpetrators most of the time are individuals with stature or those working in the security forces.
An established singer and digital film actor along with one commando personnel sexually violated a schoolgirl after drugging her. The crime was recorded on video and later used to blackmail the girl.
The mother of the victim,Nirmala told IFP reporter that her daughter is studying at Tamphasana Girls Higher Secondary school.
She had left home for school in an auto-rickshaw on October 20 at around 9.30 am. The vehicle halted near Citizen Club of Soibam Leikai and she got down from the rickshaw to meet another fellow student.
At the instant, one person identified as Yumnam William,28, s/o late Deven Singh of Khagempalli Panthak came in a Maruti car and asked her to accompany him to a friend’s birthday at Keishampat. They had known each other for about a month and William is a commando constable of Imphal West, Tombisana High School post and attached to Gypsy number 43 of the Bazar Unit.
They both went in the car and picked up Thongam Tarun, 27, s/o Th Jayenta from Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai.
Tarun is a known singer and digital film actor.
The trio drove towards Tiddim road and stopped in front of a restaurant. The girl was told that the celebration is going to take place at the restaurant which is owned by the friend. She first complained that she was in her school uniform and would be a problem if people saw her. Willaim had given her his T-shirt and then entered the restaurant.
She was told that the guest would be arriving soon and some snacks were ordered first. She ate an omelette and had a soft drink. After that she became unconscious. After some time, she came to her senses and Tarun had intimidated her by saying that the sexual act was captured on his mobile. It would be uploaded on the internet if she complained to her family members.
The victim was found in a traumatized state at Kongpal Kongkham Leikai under the care of one Th Premila Devi who is a friend of the victim’s mother.
Meanwhile, the duo had surrendered to Porompat Police Station yesterday and a case has been registered under section 366/376 of the IPC under FIR number 460(10)2012 which constitutes rape and kidnapping.
The case has later been transferred to the Lamphel Police Station which has the jurisdiction of the place of the crime occurred. The victim along with the rapist has been medically examined at the RIMS Forensic Department.