IMPHAL, September 9 (NNN): Nearly 300 victims of "sexual assault" undergo examinations every year at the Manipur Department of Forensic at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) and Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal and among them many are children, Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam disclosed on Friday.
Attending the CME (Continuing Medical Education) programme at the Auditorium of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal, the Deputy CM also said crime against women (CAW) has hampered the development pace of the state.
“Such crimes violating human rights pose a serious threat to the current generation as well as the future,” stated Gaikhangam who was the chief guest of the opening function of the programme held on the theme “Investigation of Rape: A Multi-disciplinary Approach.”
He assured the upgrade of the present Forensic Lab located at Pangei in Imphal East by procuring more advanced equipment to help deal with increasing crime rate effectively in the state.
Gaikhangam expressed concern that nearly 280-300 cases of sexual assault victims in the state are yearly examined by the Department of Forensic at JNIMS and Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). He said many of the victims are minors.
“Manipur has not been spared by rape cases, the heinous form of crime. If crime against women is left unaddressed, this poses a serious threat to the society at large," he said.
Citing the latest report of National Crime Records Bureau (NCB), the Manipur Deputy CM noted that in the country one crime takes place every 17 seconds, one crime against women every 3 minutes, one molestation case every 15 minutes, one rape or sexual assault every 27 minutes and one dowry death every 77 minutes.
Besides, JNIMS Director L Deben Singh and Head of Forensic Medicine Prof S Fimate, the programme was attended by doctors, nurses, police and lawyers.
