Crimes against women WAD demands white paper
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 02 2014: The Women Action for Development (WAD) has urged the State Home Department to bring out a white paper within the next six months on the number of crimes committed against women and children during the last 10 years, number of charge-sheets filed and the number of pending cases.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, WAD secretary Sobita Mangshatabam noted that crimes against women and children having been rising at an alarming rate in Manipur.

Majority of the crimes against women go unreported.

Only those cases which could not concealed were reported in media.

Between January and June this year, a total of 147 crimes against women and children were reported in the media.

These included 15 murder cases, 23 rape cases, 37 assault cases, 41 missing cases, eight suicide cases, seven cases of suspicious death, four molestation cases, five cases of cyber crime and two cases of human trafficking.

The first day of July reported the twin death of a pregnant woman and her 11 months old baby.

In the meantime, a six year old baby was raped by a 30 year old man in Pallel area of Chandel district sometime back.

On the other hand, a 70 year old street vendor of Khwairamband Keithel was physically assaulted by a licensed vendor (fruit seller) and the former is currently undergoing treatment at RIMS hospital.

Even as crimes against women have been soaring at an alarming rate, the State Government is yet to take up any concrete measures to control or check such crimes.

Decrying that police have not been paying due attention to the investigation part of such crimes, Sobita asked police department to inform the public if their works are being hampered by shortage of manpower or infrastructure or both.

She also appealed to police department not to intermediate for reconciliation of any criminal case out of the legal ambit.

There should be no room for bargaining in any rape case.

Saying that different steps would be initiated to persuade the State Government take up some concrete measures which can effectively check crimes against women, Sobita demanded constitution of a legislators' working committee on crimes against women.

The Home Department should bring out a white paper in the next six months on the number of crimes committed against women and children in different districts of Manipur during the past 10 years, number of charge-sheets filed, number of pending cases and the number of cases which have been disposed.

Saying that vandalism which targets any accused of any crime and his or her properties would only lead to more violence, Sobita appealed to all the people not to render the families of any accused homeless or parentless.

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