Nagaland Home Minister confirms rape

DIMAPUR, Mar 10  – Nagaland Home Minister Y Patton today confirmed the rape of a Naga college girl citing a medical examination report.

However, top brass of State police have been saying that they can’t comment on the alleged rape as they were awaiting the forensic science laboratory report.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday evening, Patton said no exgratia will be paid to the family of the rape accused as decided by the State Cabinet because he was a criminal.

Only the family of the Naga man who was killed in police firing on March 5 will be paid exgratia, he said.

Interestingly, on March 6, the State Cabinet had directed that exgratia be paid to the families of both the rape accused and the Naga man killed in police firing.

On being asked whether he condemned the mob violence and the killing of the rape accused, the Home Minister evaded a direct reply and said a judicial probe is on.

So far, 42 persons have been arrested in connection with the mob violence on March 5.