A public rally was taken out in the streets of Mangaldai on Saturday in protest against growing incidents of crime against women across Assam in recent times.
Around one hundred people comprising members of several local women organizations , students’ organizations , NGOs including Bhebarghat Mahila Mancha, Mangaldai Mahila Kalyan Samaj, Mangaldai Girls’ College Students’ Union , Saraswati Mahila Samabai Samiti , Hirapara and Crystal Vision joined the protest rally which was started from Bhebarghat public bus stand.
The rally proceeded throughout the main streets of Mangaldai town. During the rally, the protestors shouted slogans and displayed placards against crimes against women and demanded capital punishment to the criminals convicted in rape cases.
The protest rally was followed by a public meeting at Bishnu Mandir premises where several social activists and students’ leaders including Rashi Rekha Sarma of Mahila Kalyan Samaj, Sekhar Mazamdar, Jagyasmita Goswami of Mangaldai Girls’ College Students’ Union among others delivered speeches on issues leading to occurrence of crimes against women and on cautions to be taken to check such crimes.
Later the protesters submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Darrang demanding solution to their charter of demands which included setting up of a fast-track court in Mangaldai for speedy trial of such cases, introduction of one stop centre scheme called ‘Sakhi’ for the women victims.
The protestors also demanded arrangements for making new Women Police Station in Mangaldai operational and appointment of a regular District Social Welfare Officer-cum-District Protection Officer, who is officially responsible for looking into such issues in a district.