By Neha Singh

Imphal, Dec 24: Manipur became the focal point of attention, revealing a series of disturbing incidents that shook the collective conscience. From the unsettling episode of women being paraded in an open ground to the awaited response from Prime Minister Modi on the ongoing violence, the region witnessed a cascade of events that resonated across the internet. However, none more haunting than the viral image capturing the bodies of two missing youth.

A recap of five impactful incidents unfolded in Manipur, capturing both national and global attention.

Manipur Violence May 3

Manipur, northeastern state of India which shares border with Myanmar, has been under ethnic clashes between the region’s largely-Christian tribal groups and the majority Meitei Hindu residents over access to affirmative action benefits.

A curfew was imposed on May 3 following outbreaks of violence in Manipur which resulted in more than 100 casualties, over 35,000 displaced individuals, and the destruction of over 1,700 houses, as reported by the media. The Manipur government had imposed restrictions on internet services, initiated on May 3 which continued for months.

The unrest in Manipur began on May 3 when members of tribal groups protested against proposals to grant the majority Meitei community protected status as a Scheduled Tribe. The protesters argue that the Meitei community already enjoys privileges in the state, and providing them with Scheduled Tribe status would be unnecessary. Scheduled Tribe classification is a form of affirmative action designed to address historical and structural inequalities, offering quotas in government jobs and college admissions.

Women paraded in Manipur

In Manipur state, India, two women from the Kuki-Zo tribe were subjected to a horrific ordeal as they were publicly paraded and sexually assaulted by a mob of men.

The incident, captured in a viral video, reportedly occurred approximately a day after violence broke out in the Meitei-dominated valley of Thiubal district. A formal complaint was lodged at a police station in Kangpokpi district, and subsequently, the case was forwarded to the police station in Thoubal.

The video swiftly spread across multiple social media platforms, triggering a wave of intense criticism.

In the distressing footage, two women—one in her 20s and the other in her 40s—were seen compelled by a group of men to walk towards a field. Shockingly, some members of the mob forcefully drag the women towards the field, subjecting them to unwarranted groping. The widespread circulation of this footage sparked strong condemnation, emphasising the urgent need for addressing such acts of violence and ensuring justice for the victims.

Viral Pic of CM N.Biren Singh’s torn resignation letter

In June, amid reports that Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was contemplating resignation, several women tore his resignation letter into pieces. The chief minister had a scheduled meeting with Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhavan in Imphal.

The picture of the torn letter had gone viral on social media.

Singh had been facing mounting pressure to step down from his position due to the ongoing violence in Manipur for nearly two months. Supporters of N Biren Singh gathered outside the CM’s house in Imphal, expressing their demand for him not to resign.

The renewed violence in Manipur on that day resulted in three casualties and five injuries, sparking speculations about N Biren Singh’s potential resignation from the CM post.

PM Modi breaks silence on Manipur violence

In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed “anguish and anger” over the sexual assault of two women in Manipur, as captured in a viral video. While addressing the media, PM vowed that the perpetrators would not be spared, and the full force of the law would be brought to bear on them.

“What has happened in Manipur cannot be forgiven,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared during his opening remarks at the start of the monsoon session of Parliament. His statement referred to the disturbing footage of two women being stripped and paraded naked in Manipur’s Thoubal district. However, he did not address the demand from the new INDIA coalition for a comprehensive statement on the situation in the state, marked by violent ethnic clashes since early May.

Photos of bodies of two missing Meitei students who went missing in July

After two photos surfaced on social media, revealing the bodies of two students who had gone missing in Manipur in July, the state government assured that “swift action” had been taken and severe punishment would be imposed on the perpetrators. The two students, one 17 year old and the other 20 year-old, both from the Meitei community, had disappeared in July, and the case had been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In one photo, the students are seen sitting next to each other with armed individuals in the background. Another photo depicts the bodies of the two students lying next to a rock. In a statement issued late on Monday night, the Manipur government stated, “State police, in collaboration with central security agencies, actively investigated the case to determine the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and to identify the perpetrators who murdered the two students.”

Also Read: Manipur: Govt opens highways from valley to hill region to bring normalcy in state

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