ENWO Tuensang unit, Phom organisations undertake rally against rape
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Women displaying placards during the silent procession against rape in Tuensang Town on June 23.[/caption]
Dimapur, June 23 (EMN): Tuensang and Longleng towns simultaneously undertook protest rally today against rape of two minor girls and demanded for life imprisonment of the accused rapist.
It may be mentioned here that two minor girls aged 5 and 7 years were reportedly raped by their adult neighbour identified as Thunglim Lemba Chang (21), son of Yentin Mongba of Hakchang village, at Bazaar ‘A’ Colony, Tuensang town on June 15.
In Tuensang town, thousands of women from different tribes undertook a silent process against the rape of two minors today and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Tuensang, demanding for life imprisonment of the rapist as per the law.
During the silent procession, initiated by Tuensang unit of the Eastern Nagaland Women’s Organisation (ENWO), programmes were also held at five locations which culminated with the submission of memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Tuensang.
The procession began with a programme at the Chang Church Junction led by Akehda Sangtamlaru Thsingmujang (AST). Speaking on the occasion, AST former president, Mrs Tumsula condemned the barbaric incident of the rape on two minors and termed as disgrace in the society.
The second programme was held at High School Junction, which was led by the Phomla Hoichem, Tuensang unit. Speaking at the programme, the unit representative Mrs Jungdan Longlang, said the barbaric act has spoiled the future of the two minors. She called upon every right thinking person to stand by the victims and fight for justice, adding the culprit should be punished with life imprisonment as per the law.
The programme at the Main Police Point Bazaar was led by Changsao Thangjam Sethsang (CTS) where its president Mrs Y Alepla Chang and Mrs A Alemla Chang, Advisor ENWO, in their speeches, termed the incident as horrific and shameful. They said that such kind of incident happens almost everywhere but the matters are not reported and remains in the dark, causing harm to the victim’s future.
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Residents of Longleng district during the rally against rape of minors in Longleng Town on June 23. [/caption]
They remarked that such kind of matters should not be reported to the police but inform the mothers’ association first so that they might hand over the culprit to the police after necessary actions.
The fourth programme was held at the Clock Tower led by the Yimchunger Arih-Ako (YAA), Tuensang unit, in which its Advisor Mrs Yimsola, in her speech, condemned the barbaric act.
The final programme was held in the DC Office Complex led by the Khiamniungan Menyiu Hoikam (KHM). Speaking at the programme, Mrs Chongkoi, Women Pastor of Khiamniungan Baptist Church, Tuensang, said all mothers in general should be aware of such kind of incidents and take care of the children without negligence.
ENWO, Tuensang unit, has highly condemned the barbaric and shameful act and considered it as an inhuman act, which cannot be imagined and demanded that the culprit should be imprisoned for lifetime as per the law. The organisation also thanked and appreciated every associations and individuals for attending the processions and further requested to be united in the coming days without any discrimination.
The programme culminated with the submission of a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner Tuensang.
Meanwhile in Longleng town, a large number of people took to the streets on Friday as a mark of protest against the alleged rape of two minor girls age five and seven years respectively, belonging to Sakshi village of Phom community that took place on June 15 at Tuensang town by one Lemba Chang.
The protest rally was jointly organised by Phomla Hoichem (Phom Women Association) and Phom Students’ Conference (PSC) that started from medical junction and proceeded towards Tuensang and Aboi junction.
President of Phomla Hoichem A Shamthai Phom, while condemning the heinous crime committed by Thunglim Lemba Chang against the two innocent minors in Tuensang, asserted that the society needs to ‘wake up and fight for the rights of women and children’.
PSC vice president Mane Phom, addressing at the protest rally, urged upon the government to take stern action according to the law while requesting the government to implement and protect the victims under the POSCO Act 2012.
Voicing concern on behalf of the Phom community, former legislator Metpong Phom categorically stated that ‘the culprit should be held responsible if any of the two faces any risk or loss of life.’
Phom People’s Council (PPC) vice president, H Tenchem Phom, expressing resentment with a few Tuensang based organisations for not permitting to print the image of the culprit during the same rally held in Tuensang, called on the concerned government authority to take stern action against the culprit, without which he said, ‘the Phom community will be compelled to take its own form of action.’
In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Longleng, which was appended by Phomla Hoichem president Shamthai Phom and the PSC vice president Mane Phom, the two organisations put forward four point demands. The four charter of demands stated that the rapist should not be given bail on any ground; demand for capital punishment for the rapist; immediate evacuation of rapist from Tuensang district jail to Dimapur central jail without any delay; and demand for full support to the innocent two victims in every possible way and cover them under POSCO Act.
