Crime against women : Govt's follow-up action peeves MSCW
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 04 2014 : Even though the Manipur State Commission for Women (MSCW) investigated and submitted recommendations to the State Government regarding several murder cases of women, the Government's follow-up actions are far from satisfactory.

Talking with The Sangai Express about the rising cases of murder and controversial deaths of women in Manipur, MSCW Chairperson Dr Ibetombi said that Government's follow up action on crimes against women particularly murders are rather disappointing.

On account of the rising cases of crime against women and unsatisfactory Government's response, many young women are living with a deep sense of fear and insecurity.

Many women confided their deeply entrenched feelings of fear and insecurity when MSCW teams went to investigate several murder cases of women.

According to data collected by the Women Action for Development (WAD) based on newspaper reports, 21 women were murdered between January and September this year.

Five women each were murdered in Imphal West, Imphal East and Thoubal district.

Four women were murdered in Bishnupur district while Churachandpur and Bishnupur witnessed murder of one woman each.

The same period recorded 16 controversial deaths of women where it could not be established whether they were murders or suicide.

Of these 16 women, 13 were housewives and four of them were pregnant.

Even as complaints were lodged citing circumstantial evidences and events that took place before their controversial deaths contending that those cases were not suicide but murders, police cannot establish whether those cases were genuine suicides or murders.

It would be wrong to say that the Government does not do anything to check crimes against women.

Yet, crimes against women have been soaring due to enhanced craftiness of criminals, growing vulnerability of women and abuse of drugs by youngsters, Dr Ibetombi said.

Majority of the victims of crimes against women happened to be from poverty stricken, underprivileged families.

In their struggle for livelihood, many women were compelled to work as agricultural labourers or vendors which means that they were compelled to travel after dusk at many instances.

Taking advantage of their vulnerability, criminals targeted them.

Investigation, examination and recommendations are the three main functions of MSCW.

The MSCW investigated many cases of murder of women, examined them and submitted due recommendations to the Government.

All murder cases of women reported in media were taken up by the MSCW as suo moto cases and they were duly investigated.

Police alone cannot check crimes against women.

It demands collective efforts from all sections of people irrespective of their age and gender, Dr Ibetombi said.

Parents of all girls should keep a strict vigil on their daughters and keep a close tab on their movements.

If a girl does not return home by the time she is expected, parents should search for her without losing any time.

Parents should not sit back at home on the assumption that they might have eloped with some one.

It is crucial to generate extensive and continuous awareness on how women should defend themselves from exploitation and violence.

Most of the cases registered with MSCW are about domestic violence.

Altogether 124 cases were registered in 2011.The corresponding figures for the subsequent years were 96 in 2012, 65 in 2013 and 54 in 2014 (till September) .

Of all the cases registered with MSCW, 55 are still pending, said Dr Ibetombi adding that counselling is one key antidote for resolving issues of domestic violence.

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