Tee National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Manipur government over the taking away of five members of a family from police by a mob who made two Kuki-Zo tribal women parade naked, as seen in the harrowing viral video, amid the ongoing ethnic clashes in the northeastern state.
The NHRC notices have been to the Chief Secretary as well as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur. A detailed report has been sought on the matter within four weeks, including the status of the investigation of the FIRs registered with regard to the incidents, the health status of the victim women and other injured persons as well as compensation, if any, granted to the aggrieved persons/families.
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The human rights body took cognisance of the complaints seeking its urgent intervention into the incident that allegedly took place on May 4 in B Phainom village of Kangpokpi district in Manipur, a day after the violence erupted.
“Allegedly, the mob paraded naked the two of the women, brutally gang-raped one of them, and murdered two male members of the family, who tried to protect the women,” the commission stated in a press release.
The NHRC also said that it would also like to know about the steps taken/proposed to be taken to safeguard the human rights of the citizens, especially women and vulnerable sections of society from such barbaric incidents.
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Meanwhile, three arrests have been made by Manipur Police in connection to the video of tribal women being paraded naked by a mob, reportedly of the Meitei community.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh called the incident a crime against humanity. "We will not spare anyone. All the legislators of the ruling BJP condemn the incident in the strongest possible terms. Will give exemplary punishment to all those involved, even go to the extent of seeking capital punishment," Singh said, adding that an investigation was underway.
Manipur Police was conducting search operations in vulnerable and fringe areas of both the Meitei-dominated valley and the tribal-dominated hill districts of the state.
