Manipur west’s District and Sessions judge Imocha Salam has convicted four rapists and one wife-murderer to life imprisonment in two separate judgements. Three of the convicts happen to be security personnel.
The 8-month trial, which saw the judge sentencing the rapists on Tuesday, was the fastest rape trial in Manipur. It was also for the first time in Manipur’s legal history that rapists were sentenced to life imprisonment, although the victim was not killed. The prosecution’s case stated the 42-year-old tribal woman had hitched a ride in the truck driven by her brother-in-law from Tamenglong district to Imphal on the night of March 21 The accused were joy-riding in a car and were allegedly under the influence of liquor. They intercepted the truck, beat up the driver and gang-raped the woman. Hearing her screams, villagers overpowered the accused.