Mokokchung, October 14 (MExN): In a new development to the case regarding the October 10 rape of a minor girl in Mokokchung, the Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem, Mokokchung (Mopungchuket village citizens union of Mokokchung) today issued a declaration that it will investigate the whole incident till the very end.
In a declaration note issued by the MSTM, its president, Mepu Jamir and secretary Lemong Jamir while declaring that the accused Bendangwapang Longkumer is a citizen of Mopungchuket village and a member of Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem Mokokchung asserted that MSTM “is not aware of what entity called for the purported trial or where, when and how the trial was conducted for the alleged crime he supposedly committed on October 10, 2011.”
It may be noted here that the Mokokchung Town Chang Union (MTCU) summoned the accused on October 12, 2011 and took action as per their “Resolution No. 16.” It is reportedly learnt that the accused was fined a sum of Rs.50,000 (plus Rs.2000 as late fine) and a pig by the MTCU.
In this regard, the Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem Mokokchung declared that “no entity communicated to us of the purported trial wherein a senso (citizen) of Mopungchuket was tried and incriminated, which is against Ao customary law”.
Further, the MSTM declared that “As provided by Ao customary law, the case is not established as concluded and Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem Mokokchung shall go all the way to find out the truth.”
Meanwhile, police have established that the victim is not a thirteen year old girl as reported, but a little over fourteen years of age. The girl’s date of birth in her academic Cumulative Reco rd is registered to be 30th April, 1997. This incoherence in the girl’s age has raised many eyebrows. A police officer further disclosed that there was no evidence of “forceful penetration” though there was sexual intercourse, and that neither the victim nor the accused carried any scar marks.
Interestingly, there was no FIR lodged in the police station with regard to the reported crime, and that only a “Suo-Moto” case was registered by the police (Mkg. PS-1 C/s No. 362/376/342 IPC) and investigation launched into the case. Police sources disclosed that the investigation will most probably conclude by Monday next. The accused is most likely to get seven to ten years rigorous imprisonment if convicted by the court of law. According to prevailing law under Indian Penal Code, any form of sexual act with a minor girl under the age of sixteen, with or without consent, is regarded as rape.
It may be recalled that after the accused was penalized by the Mokokchung Town Chang Union (MTCU), the case was further taken up jointly by the Eastern Naga Women’s Organization, Mokokchung (ENWOM) and the Watsü Mungdang, who then on October 13 organized a protest rally and the accused paraded at the town centre, Imlong Place before he was finally handed over to the police. The two women organizations also jointly wrote a memo to the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung that the accused by booked under IPC, even though the accused was already punished under relevant customary law.
Several tribal organizations including the Ao Senden did not participate in the protest rally organized yesterday by the two women organizations. It is now clear that the Ao Senden did not participate in the rally because it felt parading the accused was against Ao customary law, furthermore so when the accused was already punished as per relevant customary law. It has also come to light that the Ao Senden on learning that the accused was going to be paraded in public tried to convince the Watsü Mungdang to drop the idea. However, with the women organizations adamant on parading the accused, the Ao Senden wrote the Watsü Mungdang wherein the Ao Senden stated that it condemned the crime and that the accused should be befittingly punished by the competent law enforcing authority.
The Ao Senden also pronounced in the letter to Watsü Mungdang that the accused must not be paraded. While parading convicts in public is against Ao customary norms, the Ao Senden felt that parading the accused in this particular case in the Ao heartland even after he was already penalized and punished for the crime he allegedly committed was against the Ao way of life and hence uncalled for. But the accused was paraded. Thus, the Ao Senden did not participate in the rally held October 13.
In a declaration note issued by the MSTM, its president, Mepu Jamir and secretary Lemong Jamir while declaring that the accused Bendangwapang Longkumer is a citizen of Mopungchuket village and a member of Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem Mokokchung asserted that MSTM “is not aware of what entity called for the purported trial or where, when and how the trial was conducted for the alleged crime he supposedly committed on October 10, 2011.”
It may be noted here that the Mokokchung Town Chang Union (MTCU) summoned the accused on October 12, 2011 and took action as per their “Resolution No. 16.” It is reportedly learnt that the accused was fined a sum of Rs.50,000 (plus Rs.2000 as late fine) and a pig by the MTCU.
In this regard, the Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem Mokokchung declared that “no entity communicated to us of the purported trial wherein a senso (citizen) of Mopungchuket was tried and incriminated, which is against Ao customary law”.
Further, the MSTM declared that “As provided by Ao customary law, the case is not established as concluded and Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem Mokokchung shall go all the way to find out the truth.”
Meanwhile, police have established that the victim is not a thirteen year old girl as reported, but a little over fourteen years of age. The girl’s date of birth in her academic Cumulative Reco rd is registered to be 30th April, 1997. This incoherence in the girl’s age has raised many eyebrows. A police officer further disclosed that there was no evidence of “forceful penetration” though there was sexual intercourse, and that neither the victim nor the accused carried any scar marks.
Interestingly, there was no FIR lodged in the police station with regard to the reported crime, and that only a “Suo-Moto” case was registered by the police (Mkg. PS-1 C/s No. 362/376/342 IPC) and investigation launched into the case. Police sources disclosed that the investigation will most probably conclude by Monday next. The accused is most likely to get seven to ten years rigorous imprisonment if convicted by the court of law. According to prevailing law under Indian Penal Code, any form of sexual act with a minor girl under the age of sixteen, with or without consent, is regarded as rape.
It may be recalled that after the accused was penalized by the Mokokchung Town Chang Union (MTCU), the case was further taken up jointly by the Eastern Naga Women’s Organization, Mokokchung (ENWOM) and the Watsü Mungdang, who then on October 13 organized a protest rally and the accused paraded at the town centre, Imlong Place before he was finally handed over to the police. The two women organizations also jointly wrote a memo to the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung that the accused by booked under IPC, even though the accused was already punished under relevant customary law.
Several tribal organizations including the Ao Senden did not participate in the protest rally organized yesterday by the two women organizations. It is now clear that the Ao Senden did not participate in the rally because it felt parading the accused was against Ao customary law, furthermore so when the accused was already punished as per relevant customary law. It has also come to light that the Ao Senden on learning that the accused was going to be paraded in public tried to convince the Watsü Mungdang to drop the idea. However, with the women organizations adamant on parading the accused, the Ao Senden wrote the Watsü Mungdang wherein the Ao Senden stated that it condemned the crime and that the accused should be befittingly punished by the competent law enforcing authority.
The Ao Senden also pronounced in the letter to Watsü Mungdang that the accused must not be paraded. While parading convicts in public is against Ao customary norms, the Ao Senden felt that parading the accused in this particular case in the Ao heartland even after he was already penalized and punished for the crime he allegedly committed was against the Ao way of life and hence uncalled for. But the accused was paraded. Thus, the Ao Senden did not participate in the rally held October 13.
Watsü Mungdang summons
Meanwhile, on the late evening of October 13 after the protest rally was held, the Watsü Mungdang is reported to have summoned another girl allegedly involved in this case. The girl, one Imlikokla, daughter of Marwaten of Longkong village under Mokokchung district and a resident of Artang Ward, is reported to have admitted to the Watsü Mungdang that she ‘owns responsibility for the crime that was committed on October 10, 2011 by Mr.Bendangwapang’. It is also reported that she, Imlikokla, has proclaimed to the Watsü Mungdang that she will be solely responsible for any further repercussions that may take effect with regard to this particular case, that is, the October 10 rape case.
It is feared that certain repercussions might actually take effect as the Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem Mokokchung is reported to have summoned the accused Bendangwapang (who is currently under police custody), the other girl involved with the case, Imlikokla and another man, one Imlitoshi, son of Kutuba Nepali and a resident of Arkong Ward, Mokokchung for ‘some clarification’ on October 15.
Meanwhile, on the late evening of October 13 after the protest rally was held, the Watsü Mungdang is reported to have summoned another girl allegedly involved in this case. The girl, one Imlikokla, daughter of Marwaten of Longkong village under Mokokchung district and a resident of Artang Ward, is reported to have admitted to the Watsü Mungdang that she ‘owns responsibility for the crime that was committed on October 10, 2011 by Mr.Bendangwapang’. It is also reported that she, Imlikokla, has proclaimed to the Watsü Mungdang that she will be solely responsible for any further repercussions that may take effect with regard to this particular case, that is, the October 10 rape case.
It is feared that certain repercussions might actually take effect as the Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem Mokokchung is reported to have summoned the accused Bendangwapang (who is currently under police custody), the other girl involved with the case, Imlikokla and another man, one Imlitoshi, son of Kutuba Nepali and a resident of Arkong Ward, Mokokchung for ‘some clarification’ on October 15.
Arkong Ward on Rape Case
MOKOKCHUNG, OCTOBER 14 (MExN): In yet another new development to the October 10 rape case, the Arkong Ward Yimten (Executive Committee) has in a ‘declaration’ issued on October 14 late evening declared that “Mr.Bendangwapang Longkumer, son of Late Mr.Koraneken of Mopungchuket village is a resident of Arkong Ward.” Arkong Ward Yimten in the declaration expressed disapproval of the act of one of its citizens being summoned and tried without any intimation. Arkong Ward Yimten further decried that the act of summoning and trying an accused without any intimation to the Yimten was against Ao custom. “Wherever or however the case was tried and the accused incriminated, it was without the knowledge of the Arkong Ward Yimten. Summoning, trying and punishing of the accused without the knowledge of the Yimten is unacceptable as per Ao customary law,” the Arkong Ward Yimten declared.
Yangpi village flays
Dimapur, October 14 (MExN): The “Yangpi Village Citizen” has condemned the rape of minor girl at Mokokchung town on November 12 by one Bendangwapang.
A condemnation note issued by its president I Rongba and gen eral secretary P Bangjung stated that such heinous inhuman act committed is vehemently condemned and appealed the authority in concern to penalize the “demon minded accused” as per the law deem fit.
“Yangpi Village Citizen” in the condemnationnote has also extended its gratitude to the Chang Union Mokokchung, ENWO Mokokchung unit, Watsü Mungdang and public for timely intervention.
A condemnation note issued by its president I Rongba and gen eral secretary P Bangjung stated that such heinous inhuman act committed is vehemently condemned and appealed the authority in concern to penalize the “demon minded accused” as per the law deem fit.
“Yangpi Village Citizen” in the condemnationnote has also extended its gratitude to the Chang Union Mokokchung, ENWO Mokokchung unit, Watsü Mungdang and public for timely intervention.
