Woman leader in Arunachal lodges NHRC plaint against local chief

Local woman leader Padda Sabha Chakma filed a complaint against Nilo Kanta Chakma—the Village Headman of Chengmara Chakma Basti, under Police Station Balijan of Papum Pare district—at NHRC for allegedly forcing her to attend a Khap Panchayat trial and for circulating inappropriate photos of her.

New Delhi:A local woman leader from Arunachal Pradesh has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against a village headman for allegedly circulating inappropriate photos of her on Whatsapp.

Padda Sabha Chakma said in her complaint letter that Nilo Kanta Chakma—the Village Headman of Chengmara Chakma Basti, under Police Station Balijan of Papum Pare district—hired goons from Assam to enforce her attendance at a khap Panchayat trial and also circulated the inappropriate photos to other village headmen.

“I am the victim because my inappropriate photo was uploaded on social media (sic)... summoning me for trial by the Gaonbura is nothing, but victimizing and shaming is not good. The said offenses are being committed because I am a local woman leader serving as the General Secretary of the Mandir Management Committee," her complaint read.

On 22 April, the village headman issued a summon to her to appear for trial at 9 am on 23 April. Fearing public humiliation from the Gaonbura and criminal intimidation, she filed a complaint with the Women Police Station, Itanagar.

However, the village headman then hired goons from bordering village Milanpur (Assam) to forcibly take her to the venue of the trial, the letter read.

The police came to her rescue but one of the villagers Karuna Sindhu Chakma, who was trying to protect her, was beaten by these two goons in the presence of the officer-in-charge of Hollongi Police Station. Another complaint was filed with Women Police Station, it added.

"The village headman also forwarded his Khap Panchayat trial proceedings -- including the photos -- to Gaonbura of Chessa I, Chessa-Chengmara Gram Panchayat, for my trial. Therefore, Nilo Kanta Chakma has been circulating my objectionable/half-nude photographs to other village headmen and villagers to humiliate and outrage my modesty," her letter stated.

Padda Chakma has sought intervention by the NHRC to stop the trial and to file an FIR against the accused and his henchmen.

She further requested to remove the village headman from his post for committing violence against a woman and victimizing her. She has demanded compensation of Rs 5 lakhs from Nilo Kanta Chakma.