Imphal, February 06 2010: Participated by hundreds of womenfolk from different parts of the State, a protest march was taken out here today demanding punishment of the culprits behind the brutal murders of Chanbi and her daughter Meneka of Phayeng, RK Ratanmala of Khurai and Sangita of Ghari, in accordance to the law of the land.

Organised by Conflict Widows' Forum, Manipur in association with various other NGOs, CBOs and POs, the protest march began from the basketball court of Chingamakha under a huge banner questioning, 'Is this justice ? .

Is this democracy, Is this good governance ? Let this be the last'.

The protest march was flagged off by Head of Political Science Department, Manipur University Prof Ksh Bimola.

Carrying the photographs of Chanbi, Meneka, Ratanmala and Sangita who were found murdered brutally in January month itself as well as placards inscribed with slogans like 'Don't deprive women's mobility', 'Know women's rights for no violence', 'Violence against women is a social problem', 'Save the children', 'Ensure right to life', 'We want justice we want speedy trial', 'Stop child trafficking', '60 MLAs wake up from slumber', etc, the protestors passed through Thumbuthong via Moirangkhom and converged at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre at Palace Compound where a meeting was held.

At the outset of the meeting, the congregation offered floral tributes to Chanbi, Meneka, Ratanmala and Sangita and observed two minutes silence as mark of respect to the departed souls.

Delivering the key note address of the meeting, Bishnupur district convenor of Conflict Widows' Forum, Manipur Umarani categorically stated that increasing crime and violence against women and children cannot be tolerated any more.

So the protest march was taken out to spread public aware on the issue, find out a solution to the problem and exert pressure on the Government to arrest and award exemplary punishment to the culprits.

In the meeting, six different recommendations were adopted.

These include identification, arrest and punishment of the culprits involved in rape and murder of women; protection of the three children left behind by Chanbi under the Juvenile Justice Act; legal action against traffickers of children from Manipur; formulation of a State Children Policy; introduction of a policy to ensure speedy trial and punishment of the culprits involved in rape and murder of women, Govt provisions for food security, health care and economic empowerment of the widows and incorporation of issues related to human rights more particularly the rights of women and children in the training module of the security forces.

Social activist Yumnam Mangol, former principal of DM College of Commerce S Sanahanbi, retired principal of Manipur College L Sadananda , editor of Ereibak Arun Irengbam, vice president of AMUCO KT Rahaman, representative of Rongmei Women's Organisation Panti Rongmei, social activist Dhanabir Laishram and member of Manipur Human Rights Commission RK Rajendra were among those who spoke at the meeting.

At the end of the meeting, Conflict Widow's Forum, Manipur announced that the recommendations adopted would be forwarded in the form of memorandum to President of India Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Speaker of Lok Sabha Meira Kumar, Union Minister of Home Affairs P Chidambaram, Union Minister of Woman and Child Development Krishna Tirath, Governor of Manipur Gurbachan Jagat and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh.