Juvenile victims recount ordeal of violation

IMPHAL, October 18: Two cadres of Zeliangrong United Front were dragging a girl with them. Along the jungle road, they were both accosted by a woman and later snatched the girl from their clutches. One cadre fired from his weapon towards the intervening woman but his gun was deflected by the other cadre.

The two cadres in an inebriated state then started firing wantonly causing panic to the nearby residents. Later, they abducted four school girls in their teens at gunpoint and physically violated them. One cadre committed suicide, another cadre remains missing.

The incident took place at Khoupum area of Tamenglong district on October 5.

The juvenile victims recounted their ordeal to the media with consent from family members and volunteers of Rongmei Women Organization, Khoupum.

The students on Wednesday detailed their horrific account at the hands of the ZUF cadres. The four of them after coming from their school located at Deithalong heard the sporadic gunfire. Terrified, they ran and sought shelter at a house located at Duithajang village. After some time, they came out from their hiding place and went along the jungle track towards home. Then, the two fully armed cadres appeared from the bushes and waylaid them. They started shooting near their feet, and told not to run or otherwise be shot down.

Along the way, the cadres also shot up farm animals and at the residences nearby. The girls were forced inside the chowkidar quarters of the IFCD and later committed the heinous crime. They were held captive from 3 pm to 6.30 pm. They juveniles were subjected to severe physical and mental trauma. Dibanpao, one among the cadres after physically abusing a girl held her head next to his and shot himself in the head.

The other cadre escaped afterwards and was allegedly involved in attacking an army unit patrolling at Khoupum area.

The family members and other civil organizations voiced that the residents of Khoupum area are living under constant threats from the ZUF cadres and there is no sense of security. “We do not want them in Khoupum area anymore, we want the guilty cadre to be punished and we will not rest until justice is done”, a member of Khoupum Woman organization told mediapersons.

It may be mentioned that the missing cadre is identified as one Lajanthai whom has been branded as a deserter by the ZUF. The incidents of such incidents happening in the remote hill districts are most of the time unreported due to threats made to the victim and family members.

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