Rally exposes battered side of women, hypocrisy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 19 2010: In protest against the rising crime rate against women, a mass rally was taken out here today.

This was followed by a public meeting where it was resolved to urge the Government to book the culprits involved in the murder of a woman at Thingkhanphai in Churachandpur district a few days back.

The mass rally cum public meeting organised by the Women Action for Development (WAD) in association with 40 other different organisations was participated by people of all communities.

The rally started from Chingamakha Basketball ground and passed through Moirangkhom before winding up at Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound where a public meeting was held.

Women staging a rally against violence

The meeting took several resolutions including demand for booking the culprits involved in the murder of a woman at Thingkhanphai by December 25, devising an effective mechanism for checking crimes against women and children, amendment of the Police Act, formulation of a gender policy, constitution of a Legislative committee to monitor violence and crimes against women, and construction of morgues in every district of Manipur.

The protesters carried placards all along the course of the rally which read as "we demand speedy trials to all crimes of rape and murder, change the mindset of Delhi Police, Change the mindset of mainland India, wake up intelligence department, train officials for investigation of women related crimes, we demand women investigating officer (IO) in all police stations, reform Police Act, develop State gender policy, we demand special law courts in all districts, we demand the armed groups operating in Thingkhanphai to identify the culprit, protect North East women and girls in metro cities, train police officer on gender issues, wake up security force, wake up 60 MLAs" .

They also shouted slogans like, "Stop crimes against women, book and punish women murderers and rapists" .

Significantly, a large of male youngsters also took part in the rally.

The public meeting held at Hapta Kangjeibung was attended by Kuki Women Union president Rose Mangshi, All Tribal Women Organisation, Chandel president Moikham, Joint Women Organisation, Churachandpur president Somi, United NGOs Mission Manipur secretary U Nobokishore, social activist Dhanabir Laishram, All Manipur Muslim pangal Women Organisation president Nurjahan and Film Forum representative Sadananda as presidium members.

Giving key-note address of the meeting WAD secretary Subita Mangshatabam lamented that the rate of crime against women in Manipur and the entire North East region has been rising.

Even as the people has been making strong protest against all kinds of crime on women including rape and murder, rate of crime against women has been rising.

As such all the people, irrespective of whether one is a Meitei or Muslim or Christian need to stand united against criminal activities targeting women.

There is no Government to women.

The Government is for the rich few, Subita asserted.

There is no security personnel to nab culprits involved in crime against women.

For the common agenda/issue of protecting women's rights and dignity, all need to unite together leaving aside all the differences about community or religion, she stated.

Dhanabir Laishram observed that the Government's failure to punish culprits involved in crimes against women has been indirectly encouraging criminal activities against women.

Actor Sadananda highlighted the importance of women empowerment.

Somi decried the failure of the Manipur State Commission for Women to initiate necessary actions for those victims who are in dire need of their assistance.

Rose Manghsi called upon all to stand united and fight crime and violence against women collectively.