On July 25, Rekha Sharma visited the victims in Churachandpur, the first time a member of the Central government had done so since the violence began more than 80 days earlier.
The head of the National Commission for Women (NCW) paid a quiet visit to Manipur this week to meet with two of the three victims of sexual assault on May 4, when one of them was raped in Thoubal and the other two were displayed naked.
Massive indignation was aroused by a video recording of the brutality that leaked last week.
As the first official from the Central government to visit the victims in Churachandpur since the violence began more than 80 days ago, Rekha Sharma, the head of NCW, met them on July 25. According to a source, the NCW leader spent three days in Manipur.
Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi and the Director General of Police Rajiv Singh were among the key government and law enforcement officials she met.
Ms. Sharma received updates on the situation from both the Chief Secretary and the DGP. The source continued, She also visited with women’s organizations, members of civil society, and victims of violence from the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
Ms. Sharma, who returned to Delhi on Wednesday, is due to meet with senior Union Government officials and to provide a report on atrocities on women in the strife-torn State soon.
She requested an action-taken report from the DGP and the Chief Secretary four days after the video went viral on social media on July 20. She also tweeted that the NCW has taken cognizance of the matter on its own initiative.
On June 12, the NCW was informed of the occurrence by two women activists and the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA), a civil society organization.
When the video became viral, Ms. Sharma stated that she had conveyed the complaint to the Manipur government, requesting that peace be restored.
“We have written to the Manipur Government three times so far, on May 23, May 29, and June 19,” Ms. Sharma told The Hindu.
The plea, which was forwarded to the NCW chairperson, detailed six cases of violence and assault against Kuki tribal women. On May 4, gang rape and assault on women occurred in B Phainom village, Kangpokpi district.
The appeal also mentions the alleged harassment and abuse of Kuki-Zomi students and staff on the Manipur University campus in Imphal on May 3- the harassment of two young women at Nightingale Nursing Institute in Imphal on May 4- the alleged rape and murder of two young women in the Konung Mamang area of Imphal on May 5- the killing of a 45-year-old woman in Pheitaiching village of Kangpokpi district and the sexual assault
Ms. Sharma’s visit and subsequent actions by the NCW exemplify the commitment to seeking justice and support for the victims of sexual violence in Manipur.
As the nation awaits the comprehensive report and further steps by the authorities, it is hoped that such engagements will pave the way for meaningful change and greater protection for women in the region.
Addressing the root causes of violence and fostering a safer environment for all citizens must remain a collective priority for the government and society at large.
