Manorama was not raped: Army chief

Army Chief NC Vij said that there were reports of Manorama's underground connections.

Asserting that Manorama Devi, whose death in the custody of Assam Rifles created furore in Manipur, had questionable credentials, Army Chief NC Vij said there were reports of her underground connections.

"...The credentials of this lady are concerned, they are questionable...Everyone knows that she was a mixed-up with the underground. There are reports available on that," Vij told reporters in Srinagar.

"Even the state Chief Minister was on record having said this," he added.

Referring to the post-mortem report of Manorama, which reportedly ruled out her rape in the custody, the Army Chief said, "it has come out clearly that there is no rape and I think this is one fact which must reach everyone."

Strong protests were made by the locals after the body of 30-year-old Manorama Devi, who was picked up from her house by Assam Rifles after serving an arrest memo on July 10, was found on July 11.

The incident also triggered a series of agitations against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and kept Manipur of boil for nearly one-and-a-half months.