Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister, broke his silence on the state’s prolonged ethnic war in response to a violent video that showed two women being forced by a baying throng to walk naked in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur. The video’s anger-inspiring content caused an outcry on social media.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) claims the viral video represents an event dated May 4, but police didn’t make any arrests until this week after the video had already gone global.
On Wednesday, the crime was termed by the Manipur Police as “a case of abduction, gang rape, and murder” on Twitter.
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On Thursday, officials announced that four persons had been arrested and that police operations were still proceeding.
According to reports, authorities are questioning more than thirty males in connection with the alleged sexual assault.
The footage shows two terrified ladies made to pass through a group of dressed males. The victims appear to be the targets of groping and sexual assault as they are encircled by a group of guys, several of whom are holding lengthy canes or clubs.
The horrifying video was released while ethnic conflict continued in the Indian state in the northeast.
Modi addressed the situation in the state for the first time on Thursday, saying: “My heart is filled with grief and anger. The incident in Manipur is shameful for any civil society.”
“What happened with the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven,” Modi continued, adding the “law will take its course with all its might.”
Minutes after convening again, the Upper House of Parliament was postponed when opposition MPs made a commotion over the unwillingness to discuss the Manipur matter.
The ITLF issued a statement on Wednesday, writing: “A video which went viral today shows a large Meitei mob parading two Kuki-Zo tribal women naked toward a paddy field to be gang-raped.”
According to the statement’s further explanation, the “despicable incident” occurred in the Kangpokpi district’s B. Phainom village and “shows the men constantly molesting the helpless women, who cry and plead with their captors.”
Manipur has struggled with violence recently. On May 3, after thousands of students, largely from the Kuki tribe, participated in a protest against the dominant Meitei ethnic minority, who have petitioned for special tribal status, clashes broke out in the state capital Imphal.
The tribal designation would give the Meitei additional prospects for government employment, among other things, and allow them to purchase land.
Since then, tens of thousands more people have been evacuated and over 100 people have died.
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According to the ITLF, the incident on May 4 happened after the women’s village was destroyed by fire and two males were brutally murdered.
The leader of India’s main opposition Congress party, Mallikarjun Kharge, tweeted on Thursday, just before the start of Parliament, “Humanity has died in Manipur,” criticizing Modi’s handling of the situation.
By tearing apart the fragile social fabric of the state, the Modi government and the BJP have transformed democracy and the rule of law into mobocracy.
Tagging Modi, his tweet continued: “India will never forgive your silence. If there is any conscience or an iota of shame left in your government, then you should speak about Manipur in the Parliament and tell the nation what happened, without blaming others for your dual incompetence, both at the Centre and the State.”
N. Biren Singh, the state’s chief minister, tweeted shortly after that an arrest had been made.
The Manipur Police “swung into action and made the first arrest this morning after taking a Suo-moto cognizance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced,” he added.
Suo-moto cognizance is an Indian legal procedure that enables the court to act in a matter even in the absence of a complaint.
He said, “An extensive investigation is currently under progress, and we’ll make sure that all of the criminals face harsh punishment, perhaps even the death penalty. Let it be understood that such horrible deeds have no place in our society.”
Police in Manipur later announced that they had detained three more suspects “of the heinous crime of abduction and gang rape.”
Twitter and other social media platforms have received a directive from the Indian government not to share the viral video.
The situation has escalated tensions in the region, with opposition MPs demanding accountability and action in the Indian Parliament.
The incident has severely impacted the state’s social fabric, and the opposition has accused the government of fostering mobocracy by not addressing the issue promptly.
As Manipur grapples with violence and unrest, the nation looks on, demanding justice and an end to such heinous acts within society.
