'Hate has won in Manipur': Criticism Pours In On Video Of Women Being Paraded Naked

A horrifying video has been circulating on social media platforms showing two women, allegedly from the Kuki-Zo tribal community in Manipur, being paraded naked on the road by a mob amid the ongoing violence in the northeastern state. The incident has drawn massive criticism and condemnation from across the nation. The incident purportedly happened on May 4 in Kangpokpi district after B Phainom village was burnt down. The terrorising video showed the group, allegedly members of the Meitei community, take the two women to an open field. A few men were seen molesting them. A tribal organisation has further alleged that the women were gang-raped that day. An FIR has been lodged in this regard.

The video was doing the rounds on the eve of a planned protest march announced by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) on Thursday which condemned the incident to highlight their plight. A spokesperson of ITLF told PTI that the "despicable scene, which happened on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, shows men constantly molesting the helpless women, who cry and plead with their captors”.

“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 said. Calling it a "sickening act", the ITLF spokesperson also demanded that the central and state governments, National Commission for Women and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes take cognisance of the offence and bring the culprits before the law.

The incident has drawn the attention of the political circle who have demanded immediate action as well as the resignation of the leaders responsible for the law and action. 

Outlook takes a look at a few of the reactions to the horrifying video.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) issued a Twitter statement on the video, condemning the gruesome act and the “continued ordeal of the helpless people of Manipur”. The party demanded the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The inaction of the State and the Central government is painful for all the citizens fo the country. We again request the intervention of the Prime Minister in Manipur. Turning a blind eye to the problem will not make it go away,” the statement read.

Pradyot Bikram Manikya DebBarma, former chief of TIPRA Motha, condemned the incident calling it a “total breakdown” in the relationships between the Meitei and Kuki communities who have been rioting against each other for two months. 

“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,” he said.

The Kerala unit of Congress tweeted that the video is “too distressing and heartbreaking”.

“That such atrocities are happening in our own country is deeply shocking, and the silence of the state and central governments is infuriating. In any other civilised country, the CM & HM would have been sacked and the PM would've owned up,” the Congress said.

Responding to the horrifying incident, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani tweeted, “The horrific video of sexual assault of 2 women emanating from Manipur is condemnable and downright inhuman. Spoke to CM N Biren Singh ji who has informed me that investigation is currently underway and assured that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice.”

Expressing concern over the heart-wrencing incident, DCW chief Swati Maliwal says, "I am unable to sleep after watching the video which has come from Manipur. The incident happened 2.5 months ago but no arrest has been made so far. I am ashamed that no one has been arrested. Central govt is silent, PM has not made a single statement. I am writing today to the Manipur CM and PM Modi to end the violence in Manipur and take action against the accused and police officials."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the “PM’s silence and inaction has led Manipur into anarchy”. “INDIA will not stay silent while the idea of India is being attacked in Manipur. We stand with the people of Manipur. Peace is the only way forward,” he wrote.

Party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted, “The images of sexual violence against women from Manipur are heart wrenching. Any amount of condemnation of this horrific incident will fall short. Women and children have to face the maximum brunt of violence in society. We must all condemn the violence in one voice while furthering the efforts for peace in Manipur. Why is the Central government, Prime Minister sitting blindly on the violent incidents in Manipur? Do such images and violent incidents not disturb them?”

Here are some more reactions from the political circle:

Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between the majority Meiteis, concentrated in Imphal valley, and the Kukis, occupying the hills. More than 160 people have been killed in the violence so far, as per the official record. The actual numbers are likely much higher.