Praise the verdict!!!!

In July 2008, Lunglei Additional District Magistrate (Judicial) K L Liana convicted Mr Thanthuama, President of Young Mizo Association, Phairuangkai branch (Lunglei district, Mizoram), of raping a Chakma woman at his residence in 2005. (Rapist convict, Newslink, Aizawl, 22 July 2008)

On the night of 15 May 2005, Mr Thanthuama raped a 26-year-old Chakma woman after YMA members found 32 cakes of yeast used for making country liquor during a raid at her jhum hut. Instead of handing over the victim to the police, the accused took her to his home in the pretext of investigation. He forced her to cook food in the evening and raped her at night. Later, after his arrest, the accused confessed to raping the victim before the Lunglei police. (Branch YMA leader confesses to rape, The Newslink, Aizawl, 24 May 2005)

I hail the verdict.

After I came to know of the incident through the Newslink newspaper in May 2005, I was extremely sad that such thing should happen to a poor woman. In Mizoram, selling of liquor is totally banned. But the law should take its own course and a woman should not be raped for allegedly selling or manufacturing country liquor as punishment. More, I was skeptical whether the accused would be brought to justice as he held a post with very powerful Young Mizo Association and the victim belonged to a minority community. But today, my conviction in the fairness of the Indian judiciary has been strengthened as the rapist stands convicted in the court of law.

A rapist must be punished severely and despised by the society for his inhuman act. But I could not know about the sentence.