Imphal, November 15: Governor Dr SS Sidhu has condemned the killing of CDPO Moirang Block Saikhom Rasheswari.

In a press release issued by the Raj Bhawan, the Governor conveyed pain and anguish at the cowardly and dastardly act of killing a lady officer of the Social Welfare Dept while she was in her office by some cadres of a proscribed militant outfit.

Dr Sidhu suggested the State Govt to take up swift and effective action against the perpetrators of this very heinous crime so that the rule of law and respect for authority is maintained.

The Manipur State Commission for Women has also strongly condemned the killing Saikhom Rasheswari in cold blood yesterday.

Speaking to reporters this evening at its office within Imphal West DC office complex, MSCW Chairperson Dr Ch Jamini remarked that it is unacceptable to kill a woman without undertaking any form of trial in public.

Both in terms of legal and moral perspectives, it calls for a thorough examination/investigation before awarding capital punishment to CDPO of Moirang Block Rasheswari to ascertain whether her faults deserved her death penalty or not.

Even if she had committed some mistakes, she should have been given a second chance on humanitarian ground.

Naturally, giving capital punishment to a woman is the most cruel act, observed Jamini while recalling the ancient adage of the land, " The land where women can be slaughtered without any remorse is uninhabitable".

On being asked whether the Commission will take up any case in connection with the killing, the MSCW Chairperson referred to a clarification by 'one group'.

However, the Commission requires examination/investigation into the contentions of both the parties.

But at present, the Commission is not taking up any case, she informed.

Since the establishment of Women's Commission in Manipur, 30 different cases have been registered of which domestic violence accounted for the greater percentage, Jamini said.

Out of the 30 different cases, 10 cases have been successfully settled under the initiative of the MSCW.

It needs a collective effort by the people and the Commission to reduce cases of crime against women, she asserted.