Manipur video sends tremors across India

Tension mounted in violence-hit Manipur after a purported May 4 video, showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a few men from the other side, went viral on the social media on Wednesday. Political leaders condemned the incident and demanded the state government and Centre to take action against the culprits.
According to a statement by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), the incident took place on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, some 35 km from state capital Imphal.
“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,” ITLF spokesperson said.
Condemning the “sickening act”, the spokesperson demanded that the Centre and Manipur government, National Commission for Women and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes take cognisance of the offence and take stringent action against the culprits.
Taking note of the matter, Manipur Police said a case of abduction, gangrape and murder has been registered against unidentified miscreants and efforts are underway to arrest the accused.
“As regard to the viral videos of two women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on May 4, a case of abduction, gang-rape and murder was filed at Nongpok Sekmai police station (Thoubal district)… Investigation has started. The state police is making all-out efforts to arrest the culprits at the earliest,” the Manipur Police tweeted.
Meanwhile, the incident has drawn widespread criticism from political leaders who demanded action against the accused.
“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,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
“The amount of condemnation of this horrific incident of violence against women is less. Women and children have to bear the maximum brunt of violence in the society,” tweeted Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
“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,” Tripura’s Tipra Motha Party chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma wrote on Twitter.
On the other hand, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has accused the opposition for doing politics on the issue of Manipur violence. Talking to reporters outside the Parliament, he said, the Prime Minister has condemned the incident of atrocities against two Manipuri women and said, strong actions should be taken against the culprits. He said the government has clarified that it is ready for discussion but the opposition is running away from it.
NCP president Sharad Pawar on Thursday demanded that the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union Home Ministry immediately take necessary steps to restore peace in Manipur, after shocking visuals emerged of two women being paraded naked in the strife-torn state. Quoting Dr B R Ambedkar, Pawar in a tweet said, “Without humanity, your glory is worthless.”
Distressing to see disturbing visuals from Manipur specially the atrocities against women, which is “despicable”, he said.