From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Former members of Mizo National Army (now disbanded), the military wing of rebel Mizo National Front (MNF), on Monday raised demand for assistance from the Government of India for proper rehabilitation and looking after of a large number of elderly Mizo women who, they said, had become mentally deranged after they were raped and tortured by Indian Army at their young ages during Mizoram conflict of 1966-86.
It has been 27 years since Mizo Peace Accord that was signed on June 30, 1986 between the erstwhile separatist insurgent group Mizo National Front (MNF) and Government of India paving way for restoration of peace after 20 years of armed conflict since 1966 that left people of tiny Mizoram in jitters.
Members of Ex-Mizo National Army (erstwhile militant wing of the MNF) Association demanded financial assistance from the Government of India taking proper care of these innocent victims of the conflict as their families no longer could bear the expenditure required to look after them.
They alleged that a large number of Mizo women were raped and tortured by Indian Army in the armed conflict with MNF during 1966-86, especially after MNF declared Mizoram an ‘Independent State’.
They stated that media was not allowed inside during that period and Indian Army was given all the power. The Army allegedly killed many innocent Mizo men and raped and tortured young Mizo women.
The former rebels said some of those raped women are now elderly women and mentally deranged and thereby have become burden for their families.
The former rebels also demanded that some cases filed against Mizo rebels were still pending though it was assured during the signing of Mizo Accord that those cases would be dropped. For instance, they cited particular three criminal cases filed by Manipur government against three former Mizo National Army rebels –Lalzarliana, Lalbiakhluna and Vanlalhruaia – were still pending and the mental agony caused by the pending case has made Lalzarliana a mentally deranged person now.
The criminal cases in question were registered by Manipur government as per FIR No.303 (6) 1984 U/S 396/397/121-A/326 IPC RW 25 Arms Act & 13 UAP Act. After signing of Mizo Accord when MNF formed two subsequent government in Mizoram, respective MNF chief ministers of Mizoram had requested the chief minister of Manipur, Governor of Manipur and President of India for number if times to drop these cases, but in vain.