WAD worried over surging crimes against women
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 04 2014 : The Women Action for Development (WAD) has said the number of crime cases including rape and killing committed against women and children in the State beginning from January this year has shot up to 147 .

A surge in crimes against women and children has been witnessed in the State, WAD secretary, Sobita Mangsatabam told a press meet at the Press Club here on Wednesday.

Expressing concerns, Sobita said WAD is shocked to learn the deaths of a 31-year-old pregnant housewife and her 10-month-old daughter at her residence in Elangbam Leikai in Imphal West on June 1 .

The deceased, Sushila, wife of Elangbam Dhiren, was reportedly found hanging inside her room under mysterious circumstances and alongside her only daughter was also found dead in the bed.

Sobita demanded that the culprits involved in the killing of Sushila and her daughter must be brought to justice.

She went on to point out that a 6-year-old girl was reportedly raped by a man in Chandel district last month besides a 70-year-old woman street vendor is still undergoing treatment at a hospital after she was physically assaulted by some regular women vendors of Kwairamband market on June 2 .

Noting that in one of the rulings, Supreme Court has directed that street vendors should be allowed to carry on with their business, Sobita also appealed to all 60 MLAs in the State to discuss the issue of Kwairamband street vendors in the House.

Citing Government report, the WAD leader said 15 murder cases of women and children and as many as 67 rape cases were registered last year alone.

But from January to date this year, 41 cases of missing, eight cases of suicide, seven cases of suspected murder, 37 cases of torture, five cases of molestation, five cases of cyber crimes and four cases of attempt to murder were committed against women and children in the State, Sobita informed.

She said WAD will urge Manipur Government to bring up all the women and children related issues prevailing in the State before the Assembly in the coming budget session.

A series of demands such as formation of a committee to tackle crimes against women and children and strict punishment to all the culprits involved in the crimes will be raised for the Government to discuss them in the upcoming assembly session, she said.

Sobita further said that the Government will also be urged not to delay cases related to of women and children and all datas and chargesheets related to these crimes be made public.

However, she came out strongly against indulging in mob justice over such crime incidents in the State.

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