Manipur right bodies demand state rape victim corpus fund

Newmai News Network 
IMPHAL | September 15

Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) and Women in Governance (WinG) Manipur, in a joint memorandum to the Manipur chief minister, proposed a "state rape victims' corpus fund".

“…………….institute a state rape victims' corpus fund in the manner of Nirbhaya Fund in the profound memory of the Mayang Imphal gang rape victim,” the organisations said.

The joint memorandum was submitted last night after a candlelight vigil for justice to recent brutal gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl from Mayang Imphal area of Imphal West district. The candlelight vigil was held in Imphal.

In one of the most painful and gruesome incidents of crime against girl children, even during this COVID-19 pandemic, the 14-year-old girl from a village in Mayang Imphal of Imphal West district was gang raped and left to die on September 3. 

So far six accused have been arrested by the police, while one accused is still absconding, the organisations stated in the memorandum and highlighted their demands. The demands included to ensure the police investigation is expedited and made complete within 15 days with effect from September 12. 

The memorandum then demanded to ensure that the trial is completed by the concerned Special POCSO Fast Track Court, within the prescribed six month period as per the provisions of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019. 

It further demanded to take up necessary "administrative and legal" measures to keep the confidentiality of the victim’s identity such as name, photo, exact address, other remote facts which may lead to identify the victim. "Such disclosure has been prohibited by laws such as section 228A IPC, Section 73 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, and Section 23 of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment ) Act 2009", it reminded.