New Delhi: A day after the surfacing of a video of two Kuki women groped by men and paraded naked by a shameless mob of hooligans that shocked the entire nation, the Constitutional machinery has swung into action – more than two months after the incident actually took place in Manipur.
Media reports quoting sources claimed the Central Government today asked Twitter and other social media platforms to stop the circulation of the viral video on the ground that the matter was under investigation.
Pressure, however, mounts on the ruling dispensation both in Manipur and in New Delhi to act and the Supreme Court too, today took suo motu cognisance of the “deeply disturbing” viral video, and a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) granted one week time to the State and Central governments to submit the steps they took. CJI Justice Dr Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chadrachud remarked: “The government should really step in and take action. It’s simply unacceptable. It’s deeply disturbing. Grossest of constitutional and human rights violations.”
As the Monsoon Session of Parliament commenced today, the opposition parties called for a discussion on the situation and demanded an immediate all-party delegation to be sent to Manipur, where many have died in violence since May 3, 2023.
With the apex court’s intervention, public outrage pouring through social media and other public platforms, and the opposition parties building up pressure on the government, the Manipur police suddenly found and arrested four culprits of the outrageously shameless act today, something that it strangely was unable to do for the last over two months – The police complaint was made on May 4, 2023, and the culprits were still roaming scot-free till today! Amid massive national outrage, Manipur Police today registered a case of abduction, gang rape, and murder taking cognisance of the viral video!
As the demand for Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s resignation intensified, he too broke his silence today, going to the extent of suggesting capital punishment for the culprits. “My heart goes out to the two women who were subjected to a deeply disrespectful and inhumane act, as shown in the distressing video that surfaced yesterday…,” he tweeted.
What apparently is surprising is that the Chief Minister’s statement suggests he came to know about the egregious act only from the viral videos. If this interpretation of his statement is correct then this raises serious questions not just about his administrative capabilities, but this is also a worrying commentary on the failure of intelligence agencies in this border state, which was a hotbed of insurgency not very long ago. It sounds strange that the murder of two people and molesting of two girls in full public glare was not reported to the Chief Minister of the state.
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As per the police complaint a large group of around 800 to 1,000 people suspected to have links with Meitei organisations, armed with sophisticated weapons, entered B. Phainom village in Kangpokpi district, and plundered the village on May 4, 2023 – just a day after ethnic violence between Kuki tribals and Meiteis had erupted in the state. When five villagers—two men and three women—took refuge in the nearby forest to escape the violence, a police team from Nongpok Sekmai Police Station in later rescued them and began escorting them to the police station when the mob abducted them and killed one of the men immediately. Thereafter, the women were stripped, and one of them, aged 21, was brutally gang-raped. When her 19-year-old brother tried to intervene, he was also murdered by the mob. This happened under Nongpok Sekmai Police Station in the Thoubal district of the state.
Significantly, the viral videos of the over two-month-old brutal incident finally made Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his studied silence on Manipur that he maintained since May 3, 2023, when clashes erupted in the state. Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament today, Modi said, “I want to assure the citizens of this country that no wrongdoer will be spared. Every step will be taken to ensure the law forcefully with all its might. What has happened to the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven”.
The Prime Minister described the incident as a shameful act for any civilized society. “Today, as I stand among you in the temple of democracy, my heart is filled with sorrow and anger over the incident in Manipur… The perpetrators of this sin, the wrongdoers, whoever they are, the entire nation is feeling ashamed. 140 crore citizens are feeling embarrassed,” he said.
While appealing to all Chief Ministers to strengthen law and order in their states, “especially taking stringent steps to ensure the safety and protection of our mothers and sisters”, Modi said whether the incident happens in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, or Manipur, in any corner of India, in any state government, “rising above political disputes and maintaining the significance of the rule of law and the respect for women is crucial”.
In Manipur, however, ever since the continuing violence since it erupted on May 3 in the Churachandpur district and engulfed other places of the state, has reportedly taken a toll of about 100 lives and displaced nearly 6000 people. At least 3000 houses have reportedly been burnt to date.
– global bihari bureau
