Moirang rally against violence
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 16: Carrying the message of peace and communal harmony and shouting slogans against the prevailing gun-culture and senseless killing, a mass protest rally under the banner of 'Stop crime against humanity' was taken out at Moirang Bazar today.

Co-sponsored jointly by Sustainable Development Centre, Thamnapokpi; Social Action Committee, Borayangbi; Women Development Association, Naransena; Youth Development Association, Kwakta; Village Reformation Group, Ithing; Village Development Committee, Sendra; United Community Development Platform, Moirang; People Platform Secretariat, Hatta Minuthong and North East Dialogue Forum, the protest rally was flagged off from the campus of Moirang Multipurpose High School.

Rally staged against the growing gun culture and violence under the banner of 'Stop crime against humanity' was taken out at Moirang Bazar today

The rally had been flagged off by world boxing champion Mary Kom and was participated by students of the schools located in and around Moirang and people coming from different parts of Bishnupur district.

After passing through Moirang Bazar and INA, the rallyists converged at the School ground again where a public meeting was held and adopted various recommendations.

The recommendations include punishment of the perpetrators of crime in accordance to law, inclusion of issue on gender sensibility in the training module of security forces, resolution of the armed conflict in the State through peaceful dialogue and allowing participation of women in the peace process.

Extension of psycho-social and economic assistance to the victims of land mine and armed conflict, specially to women and children from the side of the Govt and seeking the support of the State Govt in exerting pressure on the Central Government to implement the Resolution No.1325 of the UN Security Council are also among the recommendations adopted after the public meeting.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Mary Kom said that even if the killer instinct of the perpetrators of crime may be satisfied for sometime, they would be ultimately held accountable by the Almighty on the final day of judgement.

The lady boxer further said that she is strongly against the violence and crimes being carried out against women in Manipur.

It is very unfortunate that there are some men among our midst, who overcome by jealousy and lust, went to the extent of murdering hapless women after are being raped.

Participating in the meeting held after the protest rally, Narzima, secretary of Organisation for Development based at Santhel of Thoubal district observed that even if it is well known to all that people are fed up of the prevailing gun-culture and judgement through the Kangaroo courts of the trigger happy gunmen, it is high time for all the people irrespective of Hindu, Muslim and Tribal to say no.Common people are the worst sufferers of the prevailing gun-culture in the State, Narzima said.

One of the rallyists pointed out that armed persons should respect the law of the land and not use their weapons indiscriminately.