Imphal, February 04 2010: Coming out strongly against the recent incidents of killing women, a large public rally was taken out around Imphal city today.

Strongly condemning the recent spate of rape and murder of women, the rally demanded that the Government should not conceal the rapist-murderers.

All culprits should be awarded capital punishment, the rally demanded.

Because of the mass rally taken out under the aegis of the All Manipur Nupi Marup, there was disturbance in the vehicular traffic along many road of Imphal city.

Moreover, women vendors of the three main women-markets of Imphal suspended their business for about an hour.

Slogans and placards written with such words as "Government must punish all rapist-murderers", "Government should not mitigate punishment to be awarded to the killers because of corruption/bribery', "Check human trafficking/trading", "Take up strong actions to root out women killers", "Implement laws for protection of women fully", "Extend due assistance to victimised women", "Award capital punishment to rapist-murderers" etc were used by the protesters.

The rally participated by a large number of women vendors started from Khwairamband Keithel and marched towards Nagamapal, Wahengbam Leikai and Keishampat junction before going back to the same route.

The All Manipur Nupi Marup also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister expressing serious concern over the rising cases of rape and murder of women in addition to the alarming scale of violence taking place in the society.

The memorandum also mentioned that many drug addicts have been harassing women, physically assaulting them and even murdering their wives.

There have been many incidents of killing wives and hanging them by ropes to deceive the people as if they were cases of suicide.

Considering the increasing incidence of crime against women, the Government need to take up extra-protective measures and effective actions to protect women.

Instead of condoning culprits, they should be awarded exemplary punishment so as to deter criminal elements from repeating such crimes in future, the All Manipur Nupi Marup demanded.

Observing that laws and courts seem to be of little help in Manipur, it asserted that laws and acts have been rendered ineffective because of bribery and corruption.

Corruption of any kind should not be allowed while dealing with rapists and murderers, it asserted.