Imphal Jun 29MNS UNA : Hundreds of people mostly women participated in a massive rally that meandered down the streets in Imphal on Saturday in a collective outcry against the growing incidence of atrocities against women, including rape in different parts of the state.
Starting from Thongju part-2, the rally marched on the streets along the Imphal-Moreh section of NH-2 upto Singjamei Bazar where a public meeting was held at the auditorium of the Leimayol Arts Centre (LAC).
Leaders and members of various NGOs and civil organizations, particularly working for the caused of the women and children also took part in the rally organized by the Women Action for Development (WAD). Opposition MLA Th Bishwajit of Thongju A/C flagged off the rally.
Placards with various slogans protesting against increasing violence against women like rape and murder of women and demanding befitting punishment to the culprits arrested in connection with recent rape cases and booking of those who were still at large were displayed during the rally.
Leaders of the NGOs and civil organizations who spoke at the meeting appreciated the state chief minister, home minister, home department and police department for their role in delivering justice to a victim of rape in the infamous U-morok (king chili) trader rape case in which the four rapists were awarded life imprisonment sentence.
They further lauded the public prosecutor of the case and counsel of the rape victim for their tireless efforts for justice, asserting that the historic judgment of the case would encourage the women, particularly rape victims, to come out and fight for justice in future.
Expressing hopes that authorities of the government would work sincerely to deliver justice to the recent rape of a 60-year old tribal woman of Ukhrul district and a girl student at Yairipok of Thoubal district, the leaders demanded speedy trial to the pending rape cases in the court.
They demanded a debate on the increasing violence against women in the state in the house of the ongoing monsoon session of the state Assembly, asserting that crime against women in the state has become very serious in the state as murder of women after rape have been reported frequently in the state.
It further raised the question of the conspicuous absence of any discussion or debate regarding the issue of violence against women which is widely prevalent in the society at present.
The meeting resolved to place a charter of demand to the chief minister to hold a debate on various issues confronting by the women of the state in the house of the Assembly by tabling the an action taken report of the rape cases that were registered by the police in the recent time.
To publish reports of investigations of cases of crimes against women, kinds of support mechanism in place for the victims, and also to equip the forensic department for an effective functioning were also resolved to press the chief minister.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/protest-held-against-crime-on-women/
