In a significant judgement, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Ministry of Defence to pay a sum of Rs 1 lakh as interim immediate compensation to a rape victim, Laishram Ningol Nithoujam Ongbi Pramo Devi (29) of Keirenphabi in Bishnupur district.

The Commission took up the case under case number 4/14/98-99 on December 22 last year following a complaint lodged by one Laishram Krishnamohan of Keirenphabi.

Laishram Pramo Devi was raped by an Armyman, naik Rajinder Singh inside her house in presence of her children on April 4, 1998. According to the complaint, the Army claimed the ‘rape’ to be only a molestation case. The complainant argued that the Army authority is trying to cover up the guilty person, naik Rajinder of 6 JK Rifles. The Commission called for a report from the Defence Secretary and the Under Secretary.

On the Commission’s direction the Under Secretary of the Defence Ministry has sent a report stating there in that the Army took cognizance of the case suo moto on the incident. Later it was confirmed that naik Rajinder was involved in the rape case and he was tried by a general summery court martial which concluded on January 1, 1999. Naik Rajinder was found guilty of attempt to commit rape and was awarded punishment to suffer imprisonment for five years and was dismissed from service.

Out of the total compensation amount, a sum of Rs. 20,000 will be given directly to the rape victim in cheque form as an interim immediate relief, while the remaining amount of Rs 80,000 will be deposited in a nationalised bank near her native village and interest accruing thereon shall be paid to her every months.