IMPHAL, December 26: Locals of the Riso Phung village and its surrounding villages today staged a sit in protest at Riso Phung against the molestation and attempt to rape on a young girl of the village by three persons who self claimed to be KCP cadres on the night of December 24 at around 7.30 at Napet Palli.
Speaking to media persons on the side line of the protest, the aunt of the girl who was allegedly raped said that 13 villagers were on the way to the village for the Christmas celebration from Nagaram (Chingmeirong) by foot as they were not able to get any vehicle. When the group reached the Lamlong area, they were stopped by some bandh protestors who stopped them from going forward but after a few minutes, the protestor let them go towards their village.
When the group of villagers comprising of 7 women and 6 men reached the Napet Palli area, three youths approached the group from the paddy field side identifying themselves as cadres of KCP. Then, a bandh supporter asked them to separate the men and women of the group and took away 7 mobile phones, 1 i-pod and a sum of Rs. 2,500 in cash from their possession.
Out of the three alleged three KCP cadres, one stayed along with the group of women and one with the man while the third person singled out the girl Mary (name change) a class 10 student of Riso Phung village from the group and asked to go down the slope of the paddy field and asked not to look back or not make any sound, said the aunt. Recounting the incident, she heard a scream following which villagers in the area and the group ran toward the girl. Seeing them, the three boys fled.
Narrating the incident, Mary said that she was called out by the main accused who is now in police custody and identified as Ngangom Chandra , 21, son of late Prem of Napet Pali. The accused asked her down towards the slope of the paddy field and asked her to sit there. While she was sitting, the accused approached her from the back and started to molest her, following which she shouted for help. She alleged that the accused punched her when she tried to scream.
The two co-accused in the incident has been identified as Tensubam Amit kumar (22) son of Lamphel of Napet Pali and Khaidem Sanahal (21), son of Joytombi of Napet Pali Mayai Leikai. All three are now in the custody of Lamlai police statio.According to a source, the three accused were picked up by the police yesterday morning from their respective areas after the report of arrest. Upon hearing the news, locals of Napet Pali rushed to the Lamlai police station and demanded that the three accused be handed over the local womenfolk so that they could be given a befitting punishment. It is not clear whether a medical examination of the girl has been carried out at the time of filing this report.