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A horrific video of two women being paraded naked by a mob in violence-hit Manipur that surfaced online on Wednesday has shocked the entire nation. Concerned netizens as well as political leaders cutting across party lines took to social media to condemn the incident, demanding strict action against perpetrators of the despicable act.
Allegations
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) claimed the incident had happened in Kangpokpi district on May 4, a day after violence broke out between Kukis and Meiteis in the state over the latter’s demand for scheduled tribe status.
The video shows “men constantly molesting the helpless women, who cry and plead with their captors,” an ITLF spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI.
“The horrifying ordeal suffered by these innocent women is amplified by the perpetrators’ decision to share the video, which shows the identity of the victims, on social media,” the spokesperson added.
It is also alleged one of the women was gang-raped in a nearby field while her brother was killed by the mob.
Case lodged
Chief minister N Biren Singh has ordered a police probe. Union women and child development minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday evening spoke to Singh, who assured her of prompt action against those involved in the crime.
A case of abduction, gang-rape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station (Thoubal District) against unknown armed miscreants and an investigation has been started, the Manipur Police said on Twitter on Wednesday night.
“We have identified the men and will arrest them soon,” a senior police officer told NDTV. The officer said the survivors had gone to Kangpokpi although the crime did not take place there, adding the women had reported the matter to the police nearly two weeks after their ordeal.
Outrage
A large number of social media users have expressed shock and outrage over the video, asking people not to share it as it would force the survivors to relieve their trauma. Questions are also being raised as to why the state police did not take any action despite a complaint by the survivors.
“Disturbing videos emerging from Manipur about a woman belonging to a particular community being paraded naked by a mob. There is total breakdown in the relationships of the two communities there. Hate has won in Manipur,” Tipra Motha leader Pradyot Debbarma tweeted.
Condemning the incident, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pay attention to the prevailing situation in the state and ensure strict action against the culprits.
“The incident in Manipur is very shameful and condemnable. This kind of heinous act cannot be tolerated in Indian society,” Kejriwal, who is also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor, said in a tweet in Hindi.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also reacted to the video, saying the pictures of “sexual violence against women” emerging from Manipur are heart-wrenching.
“No amount of condemnation is enough for this horrific incident of violence against women. Women and children have to bear the maximum brunt of violence in the society,” she tweeted in Hindi.
Crime against women
The video has emerged amid a rising number of incidents targeting women in Manipur. A Naga woman in her mid-50s was shot in her face in Imphal East district last week. Nine persons including five women were arrested in this connection.
Earlier this month, unidentified gunmen shot dead a mentally-challenged woman and dumped her body outside a school in Manipur’s Imphal West district.
“Humanity has died a million deaths since Manipur violence started 3 May 2023. Hundreds killed, thousands displaced/women attacked, paraded, sexually assaulted in a manner that has shocked our communities, country & world and yet” the PM “has not spoken a word”, Binalakshmi Nepram, scholar and founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network, said on Twitter.
(With inputs from agencies)
Allegations
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) claimed the incident had happened in Kangpokpi district on May 4, a day after violence broke out between Kukis and Meiteis in the state over the latter’s demand for scheduled tribe status.
The video shows “men constantly molesting the helpless women, who cry and plead with their captors,” an ITLF spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI.
“The horrifying ordeal suffered by these innocent women is amplified by the perpetrators’ decision to share the video, which shows the identity of the victims, on social media,” the spokesperson added.
It is also alleged one of the women was gang-raped in a nearby field while her brother was killed by the mob.
Case lodged
Chief minister N Biren Singh has ordered a police probe. Union women and child development minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday evening spoke to Singh, who assured her of prompt action against those involved in the crime.
A case of abduction, gang-rape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station (Thoubal District) against unknown armed miscreants and an investigation has been started, the Manipur Police said on Twitter on Wednesday night.
“We have identified the men and will arrest them soon,” a senior police officer told NDTV. The officer said the survivors had gone to Kangpokpi although the crime did not take place there, adding the women had reported the matter to the police nearly two weeks after their ordeal.
Outrage
A large number of social media users have expressed shock and outrage over the video, asking people not to share it as it would force the survivors to relieve their trauma. Questions are also being raised as to why the state police did not take any action despite a complaint by the survivors.
“Disturbing videos emerging from Manipur about a woman belonging to a particular community being paraded naked by a mob. There is total breakdown in the relationships of the two communities there. Hate has won in Manipur,” Tipra Motha leader Pradyot Debbarma tweeted.
Condemning the incident, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pay attention to the prevailing situation in the state and ensure strict action against the culprits.
“The incident in Manipur is very shameful and condemnable. This kind of heinous act cannot be tolerated in Indian society,” Kejriwal, who is also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor, said in a tweet in Hindi.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also reacted to the video, saying the pictures of “sexual violence against women” emerging from Manipur are heart-wrenching.
“No amount of condemnation is enough for this horrific incident of violence against women. Women and children have to bear the maximum brunt of violence in the society,” she tweeted in Hindi.
Crime against women
The video has emerged amid a rising number of incidents targeting women in Manipur. A Naga woman in her mid-50s was shot in her face in Imphal East district last week. Nine persons including five women were arrested in this connection.
Earlier this month, unidentified gunmen shot dead a mentally-challenged woman and dumped her body outside a school in Manipur’s Imphal West district.
“Humanity has died a million deaths since Manipur violence started 3 May 2023. Hundreds killed, thousands displaced/women attacked, paraded, sexually assaulted in a manner that has shocked our communities, country & world and yet” the PM “has not spoken a word”, Binalakshmi Nepram, scholar and founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network, said on Twitter.
(With inputs from agencies)
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