Dimapur, June 13 (MExN): The Sumi Totimi Hoho (Sumi women organization) of Zunheboto today reacted sharply to accusations from certain sections that it was maintaining “silence” on the Satakha rape incident of June 6. The crime is not a personal issue neither should it be personalized because “the day when your daughter is raped, there shall be no one to fight for justice,” the STH today reminded all those who have been criticizing the hoho of ‘personalizing’ or being ‘politically motivated’ in their quest for justice to rape victims.
On June 6 in Satakha town, a girl of 8 years was raped by a civic official. Rather than maintaining “silence”, the STH reminded its detractors in a statement today, the crime has been condemned by one and all including the hoho; a public rally was taken out at Satakha following the rape; the apex STH is pursuing justice for the rape victims with the support of Zunheboto’s STH unit, the hoho reminded.
Referring also to the April 11 rape of another minor girl in Zunheboto town, the STH further reminded that the public cried out against the crime and was expressed in a public rally on April 20 when a memorandum was also submitted to the deputy commissioner of Zunheboto and the Superintendent of Police. In fact, the STH of Zunheboto stated, even the Lizutomi Union today has demanded justice for the crime and has decided to pursue the matter if the government fails to do so.
The apex STH or its Zunheboto unit pursuing justice for the April 11 rape case is not a personal issue nor it should be personalized at all, the STH reminded. Or else, it stated, “one day when your daughter is raped, there will be no one to fight for social justice.”
In regard to the accusation that the Zunheboto unit of the STH is “politically motivated,” the unit responded by remarking that so far “no political party had ever passed any bill to rape women and children in Nagaland political history” or “are the accused a political party?” The STH is only against the crime of rape committed on women and children, the hoho reminded strongly and advised against mixing up issues.
