Durba Paul and Co. Assault in Silchar: Manipuri body seeks Parimal Suklabaidya's intervention

A team of the Assam Manipuri Progressive Front, has sought the intervention of Assam minister Parimal Suklabaidya into the matter of an assault on two tribal woman vendors in Silchar on November 24.

Two tribal woman vendors Gracy Hmar and Lalmounpui Hmar were beaten up on that day at a roadside market at Jail Road in Silchar for allegedly stealing a stray dog to sell its meat. An FIR was lodged with police on December 5 after a video of the incident went viral on social media few days back. Gracy and Lalmounpui belong from Hmarkhawlien village in Cachar district.

A case under Sections 147/249/325/354/506/153(A) of the IPC was registered and an inquiry was initiated. The video, which has been doing the rounds on social media, features Durba Paul, Priya Mazumder and Sagnick Gupta. It shows Durba abusing, threatening, dragging and beating up one of the woman vendors, while the other two were present at the spot.

The team, which met Suklabaidya at his residence on Tuesday, apprised him about the entire incident and sought his intervention into the matter. In response, Suklabaidya said necessary steps would be taken and the culprits would be held soon.

The team also visited the house of Gracy Hmar to take stock of her health condition.

Besides in a press release issued recently, the Hmar Women Association, a Manipuri-based body, condemned the assault and demanded that all those involved be apprehended at the earliest. “One of the vendors was pregnant and has suffered a miscarriage because of the assault,” the association claimed.

The association also expressed their displeasure over the delay in apprehending the suspects by the police authority.

Dr. Arun Paul Choudhury, who was supervising the case at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (where the pregnant woman vendor was treated), had confirmed about the miscarriage on Saturday. He, however, said the miscarriage might not necessarily be related to the assault.

A team of the North East Ethnic and Linguistic Co-Ordination Committee met Cachar additional superintendent of police Rakesh Reddy on Tuesday in this regard and strongly demanded the arrest of all those involved in the assault.

Cachar superintendent of police Rakesh Roushan said that the trio – Durba, Priya and Sagnick were absconding and police were searching them. “We will nab them soon,” he said.

Sources said the trio had left Silchar after sensing trouble because of the incident. Their Facebook accounts (except Priya) were deactivated and mobile phones are in switched off mode. Durba could be at Patharkandi in Karimganj district, another source said.

The incident, meanwhile, has drawn sharp reactions from various circles in Silchar and Barak Valley. Organisations including the Barak Valley Hmar Students’ Association, All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association, Manipuri Youth Front of Assam, All Assam Manipuri Students’ Union and Barak Human Rights Protection Committee have condemned the assault and demanded stern action against all those involved.

Lalsiemthar Hmar, vice president of the Barak Valley Hmar Students’ Association expressed his dissatisfaction over the policy authority for not able to nab the culprits though a week has passed since the FIR was lodged. “We understand that the police are engaged in the panchayat election duties,” he said, adding that they would go for large-scale protests if those involved are not apprehended soon.