Women in Shillong Protest Rising Gender Violence

Shillong: Hundreds gathered in Shillong to blast the rising tide of gender-based violence. The protest hit back at the assumption that Meghalaya’s matrilineal structure protects women. Attendees demanded safety in public and the right to dress as they please. The air filled with pointed slogans like: "It’s a dress, not our yes."

Official numbers back the urgency. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau shows 658 crimes against women in 2024. This marks a jump from 628 cases in 2023. The crime rate hit 38.9 per cent, while police filed charges in 72.1 per cent of those instances. Many incidents still go unreported.

Citizens organized the rally without any formal group backing. They want to expose the hidden patriarchal rot in the state. One participant noted, "Meghalaya being matrilineal does not mean women in Shillong do not experience violence because of their gender."

Veteran journalist Patricia Mukhim warned that distance from major cities does not grant immunity from abuse. She highlighted how women journalists face regular hurdles when dealing with law enforcement. Mukhim declared, "Women here have the same right to decide how they dress, and their clothing cannot be used as a reason to molest or touch them." Protesters marched with signs reading "Matrilineal on the street, patriarchy in the sheets" and "Come one, come all, watch patriarchy fall."