Manipur violence: Tension has risen in Manipur after a May 4 video surfaced, showing two women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a group of men. The women were from one of the warring communities amid the ongoing violence in the state.
The video went viral on social media on the eve of a planned protest march announced by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) on Thursday (yesterday) to highlight their plight.
Speaking on the matter, Manipur’s Kongkopi village SP said, “All efforts are being made to arrest the culprits in connection with the viral video of two women being paraded naked.”
A case of kidnapping, gang rape and murder has been registered in connection with the viral video.
According to an ITLF spokesman, the “disgusting scenes” that took place in Kangpokpi district on 4 May showed men repeatedly groping helpless women, who cried and pleaded with their captors.
“The appalling torture suffered by these innocent women is further exacerbated by the perpetrators’ decision to share the video, which reveals the identity of the victims, on social media.”
In a statement, the spokesperson condemned the “heinous act” and demanded that the central and state governments, the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes take cognizance of the crime and bring the culprits to justice.
The Kuki-zo tribals are also planning to raise the issue during their proposed protest march in Churchandpur on Thursday.
Ethnic clashes have been raging in Manipur state since May 3 between the majority Meitei, concentrated in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki people who occupy the hills.
So far more than 160 people have died in the violence.
With inputs from PTI
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