Activists take out a torch rally against "fake encounters"

Imphal, Aug.23 (ANI): Women activists took out a peaceful torch rally on Saturday night to protest against the alleged gunning down of a pregnant woman and a suspected militant by the police commandos in Imphal.

The protesters, termed the shoot out a fake encounter, and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

The women protesters blamed Singh as responsible for the increasing police atrocities, and vowed to keep the issue alive and prolong their demand until Singh steps down from the Chief Minister's post.

Manipur has been witnessing series of protests since the shootout on July 23 near the State Legislature Building in Imphal, in which a pregnant woman and suspected militant were killed. Five others were injured in the shootout.

"Women folks were trying to take out a peaceful torch rally at night. It was just when the commando guys came and started shooting at crowd. A lady got hit in her thigh and all her muscles got torn we could see her bone also," said Biswajit Singh.

Security forces are often blamed of fake killings and violation of human rights in the insurgency-hit Manipur state.

More than 20,000 people have been killed in a decades of insurgency in the state triggered by resentment against Central Government for alleged neglect of the region. (ANI)