New Delhi: Women tribal organisations in Nagaland held a protest rally in Kohima on Saturday, demanding justice for the women who were paraded naked as seen in the Manipur viral video and stringent punishment for the perpetrators, news agency PTI reported. Condemning the ongoing violence in the northeast state, they demanded the Centre to intervene and help restore normalcy in Manipur.
The Naga women organisations that took part in the protest rally were from Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Lotha, Pochury, Rengma, Sema and Zeliang tribes and were supported by Central Nagaland Women Association (CNWA).
They shouted slogans and held placards reading 'We condemn parading of women and gang rape', 'Stand up for women rights', 'Stop the violence, start the healing', 'We want peace in Manipur', 'Rape is a punishable crime' and 'No mercy, Hang the rapists', PTI reported.
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They even held a special prayer for the victims and their families.
“A candlelight rally or punishment will not help stop rape incidents. There should be a strict rule to punish rapists … They should be killed, hanged or burnt alive. They should be treated the way they are treating women. New and stricter rules have to be made to check the rape menace in the country in general,” CNWA chief Atoli Sema told media persons on the sidelines of the rally.
Speaking on the protest, their leaders said the organisations stood in solidarity with the women of Manipur as the state has been in the throes of ethnic clashes since May.
“We are ashamed that we were helpless when such heinous crimes are committed (against women). We are sorry that the society has failed you (the oppressed women of Manipur),” PTI quoted the leaders as saying.