IMPHAL, April 18: A 13 year old student was allegedly raped on voting day by a man known to her who had taken her to proxy vote for his daughter at Chingmeirong yesterday. A protestor along the National Highway was killed in police firing at Kanglatombi, a late night reports said.
The 65 year old Ngaopunii, of Paomei Colony, Sangakpham allegedly took the girl, young enough to be his grand daughter at the Koirengei hillock and raped her.
Demanding the arrest of the accused who is still absconding, a JAC formed against the alleged crime, supported by several other organisations including Manipur Gurkha Student’s Union, Bharatiya Gurkha Parishangama, Gurkha Welfare Union has imposed a blockade along the national highway no 2 since 6pm, Friday.
Even as the accused is said to have surrendered before the Senapati police, tension continue to gripped Kanglatombi with a mob of protestors coming out along the NH 2 and blocking road by burning tyres.
Police had to resort to firing tear gas shells to disperse the mob.
A protestor identified as Tilak Paubel of Kanglatombi Teesbari was killed in police firing, informed a late night report.
Meanwhile, doctors at the Kuki Christen Hospital Dewlahland where she was admitted have confirmed rape, claimed a source.
Women folk of Paomei Colony, Sangakpham and the surrounding areas had stormed the residence of the accused Ngaopunii and tried to dismantle it. However, timely intervention of the Heingang police managed to control the mob.
It is also learnt that the JAC along with other women organisations of the state will convey a public meeting tomorrow at Mantripukhri starting from 9am.
In case Ngaopunii is not arrested by the end of the meeting, the road block at Kanglatombi and Kalapahar will continue indefinitely, informed a JAC member.
Since 11 am today, locals and women folk had gathered at Paomei colony demanding the arrest of the accused. Meanwhile, it is also learnt that the Heignang police apprehensive of violent repercussions, took under custody the accused’s daughter and son around 1pm today.
Kanglatombi ex Pradhan, RK Sedai, while condemning the crime told media persons said, around 11am on April 17, the accused entered the house of the victim and asked her to vote proxy for his daughter who was studying outside the state.
The girl who was naïve of the evil designs agreed, as the man was known to her family and from the same locality, she said.
Ngaopunii took the girl in a Maruti 800 car borrowed from a local, she continued.
And instead of taking her to the Chingmeirong Polling Station, the accused drove off to the Koirengei Hills.
Around 1pm, the girl somehow managed to escape and reached her uncle’s residence at Mantripukhri, where she recounted her tales of horror, RK Sedai said.
The girl who fell unconscious by then was taken to her residence at Paomei colony and later shifted to the Kuki Christian Hospital, Dewlahland for test and treatment, she said.
RK Sedai further said the doctors at the hospital confirmed rape after conducting her test. The girl has been referred to the RIMS this morning for treatment.
“Until the accused ends up in the jail, agitations will not end,” she continued.