annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Tripura
forces and armed opposition groups.
i. VAW by the security forces
The security forces were responsible
for violence against women (VAW).
On 20 August 2004, an eight-year-old
girl was allegedly raped by police
constable Nani Gopal Sarkar at West
Durgapur village under Amtali police
station. The victim, a resident of West
Durgapur village, reportedly went to graze
her goats in the field when the accused
police constable lured her by offering
snacks to eat. The accused then took her to
a nearby deserted field and raped her
repeatedly. The father of the victim
subsequently lodged an FIR and the culprit
was arrested. 54
On 6 November 2004, a group of
CRPF jawans based in Teliamura allegedly
gangraped three tribal women at Debtabari
village55 in West Tripura during an antiinsurgency
operation. 56 The jawans
ransacked some tribal houses and severely
beat up the family members, who had
nothing to do with militancy, seriously
injuring eight tribal youth. The CRPF
jawans then took three tribal women to the
nearby jungle at gun-point and gangraped
them. The women returned to the village
but did not file any complaint with the
police because of fear of reprisal from the
security forces. When a delegation of
INPT leaders visited Debtabari village on
13 November 2004, it was informed of the
rape. A complaint was then registered with
the Teliamura police station. 57
On 24 December 2004, a jawan of 2nd
238
Battalion of the TSR identified as Pintu
Majumder was arrested on charge of
raping a tribal girl at Debra under Sidhai
police station. The accused is reportedly
the driver of the TSR battalion. According
to the police, Pintu Majumder carried
away the girl who along with another girl
was returning home from Asrai market, to
a nearby hut and raped her. He fled away
leaving the girl groaning with pain. After
his arrest, he was remanded to 14-day
judicial custody. 58
ii. VAW by the armed opposition groups
The armed opposition groups were
also responsible for violence against
women.
Six Chakma tribal women, including
two minor girls, were gang raped and one
Gunachitra Chakma was beaten to death
on the spot by the members of the armed
opposition groups at Baisyaram
Karbaripara, a Chakma dominated tribal
village under Chawmanu police station
limits in Dhalai district on the night of 11
March 2004. Fourteen more Chakma tribal
people were also severely beaten up by the
armed opposition groups. At around 8.30
pm of 11 March 2004 a group of 16 armed
tribal youth arrived at Baisyaram
Karbaripara village and demanded food
from the villagers. After having their
dinner they asked the male folks of the
village to stand in a line, and brutally
beaten all. Gunachitra Chakma, who was a
CPM worker, was beaten to death on the
spot. Soon after that the gunmen entered
into the houses and started raping the girls