Sexual assault allegations raised against Tboubal Commandos

IMPHAL, Mar 10 : Some personnel of Thoubal District Police Commando have been accused of sexual exploitation and snatching money from six commercial sex workers (CSWs).When contacted, SSP of Thoubal police Clay Khongsai said that it is hard to believe that his men could have done such a thing and added that if the allegations are true then formal complaints should be lodged with the authority concerned. No woman, whether they are Commercial Sex Workers or otherwise cannot be molested, said the IPS officer and added that if an official complaint is lodged and if anyone is found guilty, then departmental action can be taken up. Narrating about the horrendous incident, the victims disclosed that they were molested by the police commandos after forcing them to take off all their clothes. In addition to handling private parts, the commandos also reportedly abused the CSWs with filthy and derogatory languages.Speaking to media persons at North AOC here this afternoon, the victims disclosed that the terrifying incidents occurred in the intervening night of February 27 and 28. Recalling about the nightmarish incident, the senior most victim of the sexual assault, said that they saw a woman in inebriated condition walking on the road with her clothes in total disarray at about 8 pm of February 27.As curfew was in force then, they took the women inside the hotel at North AOC where the six of them were staying. Giving her clothes to change, the woman was allowed to sleep in the hotel. But at about midnight, the unidentified woman woke up and started wailing asking why she was being arrested. She also asked to release her.As the six of them were trying to pacify the agitated woman, three persons in police uniform wielding weapons and another in civilian fatigue barged into the room after breaking down the door.Even as the CSWs tried to explain about the woman, the intruders shouted back, “There is no use for women like you. We have additional bullets to eliminate you. Why you infected women are trying to spread diseases to other ?” Saying this, the intruders started beating up the CSWs, the victim recounted.In the meantime, the suspected commando personnel ordered the CSWs to take off their clothes threatening to shoot if they refused.