Author: DHNS
Publication: Deccan Herald
Date: March 19, 2004
URL: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar192004/n13.asp
Hundreds of terror-stricken tribals
are seeking shelter in three different camps after tribal women were gang-raped
last week.
They cried as they spoke and the
officials of Tripura Women's Commission and political leaders listend silently.
The officials and leaders continued to remain silent even when the two
tribal minor rape victims asked, "Who will marry us?"
The parents of the victims and evacuated
tribals protested before the visiting officials of Tripura Women's Commission
and demanded their rehabilitation. They submitted the names of the youths
who had, allegedly, raped six tribal girls at the Chakma dominated remote
Paisaram Karbari Para village of northern Tripura, to the officials of
Women's Commission in Chawmanu on Wednesday.
Six tribal lasses aged 14 to 27
years, were gang-rapped at gunpoint by the NLFT (Nayanbasi group) on March
11 mid-night. Three of the victims were stated to be serious and undergoing
treatment at Chawmanu hospital. It was second such incident in the state
after Raiabari of South Tripura where the security personnel raped 18 women
in 2000.
About 753 people including minors
of terror-stricken 142 tribal families left the villages and took shelter
in three different schools of Chawmanu following the incident. However,
they didn't get relief, other than 10 kg rice and Rs 50 per family. No
officials, security chiefs and ministers had visited the area even a week
after the incident.
According to the victims, the heavily
armed militants stormed the villages at mid-night, beat up the men and
raped six young girls. They tried to take away the girls but failed.
About 21 families took shelter in
Chawmanu tribal hostel on February 22 following a similar incident. "Militants
demanded dinner and young girls but we refused to fulfill their requirement
and we were told to leave the village in three days," said teacher Amal
Bikas Chakma, now residing in the refugee camp.
Meanwhile Tripura Pradesh Congress
President Birajit Sinha and President of the Congress Women cell Laxmi
Nag visited the area on Wednesday and said despite identification of the
criminals police had not take any action because they belonged to the ruling
party.
Chairman Tripura Women's Commission
Champa Dasgupta said that a proposal has been sent to the government for
the rehabilitation of the victims."We will take the responsibility of two
minor girls if necessary," Dasgupta added.
