Imphal, September 18: The All Manipur Nupi Marup and the Keithel Nupi Marup jointly staged a dharna at Khwairamband bazar today from 8 am till 4 pm to protest the Piphema outrage and the frequent cases of extortion, killings, assault of drivers and handymen, burning of vehicles and the inhuman treatment meted out to passengers by armed men on the two national highways.

After the dharna, the womenfolk submitted a four-point charter of demands to the Chief Minister.

The memorandum demanded an immediate stop to all forms of harassment of passengers and civilians on the highways take stern action against those who violate the chastity of women, deploy well-armed highway protection force and complete the construction of the road at Khwairamband bazar.

The womenfolk have warned that if their demands were not fulfilled by September 21 then they would stop all flights from September 22.Moreover if the road construction at Khwairamband bazar is not completed within the deadline then all Government vehicles and security forces vehicles would be barred from entering Khwairamband bazar.

Meanwhile shops and other business establishments in Thangal bazar and Paona bazar and those along BT Road pulled down their shutters in support of the dharna called.

A large number of women in their traditional mourning dresses took part in the dharna.