Imphal: Hundreds of Manipuri women on September 18 closed the main market complex in Imphal and launched sit-in protests against frequent extortion and other forms of crime on highways across the state.

Condemning the looting of Manipur-bound vehicles and molestation of female passengers by armed Nagas at Piphema, the Manipur Nupi Keithel Marup (market women's association) demanded adequate security along the highways.

A spokesperson of the association which organised the sit-in protests said women travelling along the highways were no longer safe and wondered why had the Centre failed to protect these roads in spite of several requests and appeals from the public.

" It is beyond our imagination why the concerned authorities had turned a deaf ear to frequent lootings, forcible collection of 'road taxes' from state-bound vehicles for many years and the latest incident of molestation of female passengers on September 5," she said.

"Where should we lodge our complaints against these crimes," she asked.

Meanwhile, United Committee of Manipur (UCM) and political parties in the state have also demanded immediate deployment of highway protection force along Imphal-Dimapur NH 39 and Imphal-Jiribam NH 53.

At a joint meeting on September 17, they agreed to send a high-power delegation to Delhi to put pressure on the Central leaders for taking steps to protect the highways, UCM sources said on September 18.

PTI