– By Neha Singh
A video of two Kuki-Zo women being paraded naked and their private parts being touched by group of mob in violence hit Manipur is not only inhumane but also on how this act have been turned into political battlefields.
But now the question is: how this chilling incident was allowed to happen in Manipur and why was the video shared only hours before the Monsoon session?
This incident raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the government’s surveillance and security measures in Manipur. It calls into question whether the assurances made by both the Central and state governments were truly followed through, highlighting a potential gap between their promises and the reality on the ground.
This brutal incident is also shocking and raises questions on the loopholes of the State and Central govt who have expressed that they have been moved by this saga of brutality against hapless women?
The incident which is said to have happened on May 4th in Kangpokpi district, a day after violence broke in Manipur, when the Internet was still not banned, curfew was not forced in the state.
The ethnic clash between the Meitei people, a majority that lives in the Imphal Valley, and the tribal community from the surrounding hills, including the Kuki people started on May 3 during a solidarity march.
In the ongoing clash in Manipur, at least 150 people have lost their lives and thousands have been displaced, but India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “mum” and broke his silence only after the video of two women being paraded naked by a mob in Manipur has gone viral on social media.
But why was PM Modi mum for so long?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who often mentions about “Desh ki Matao (Mother) and Behno (Sister) and Betiyaan (Daughter)” in his speeches-where were you when they wanted your help and requested you to speak on the violence?
Where was PM Modi when the helpless women, children and men wanted you to open up on their situation?
Why did you only speak up when video of the “Matao, Behno and Betiyaan” of the state went viral on social media?
PM Modi on Manipur viral video
On Thursday, PM Modi ahead of the Monsoon session broke his silence on Manipur violence and said that he is ‘pained’ by the sexual atrocities against women in Manipur and promised to take strict action against the culprits.
But how come such incident still takes place in the presence of India’s chowkidar?
This horrific incident also raises question on how this two months old heinous crime was not exposed and no action was taken despite India having PM Modi-the chowkidar of the nation.
In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched a ‘main bhi chowkidar’ (I too am watchman) campaign and urged his supporters to take a pledge. He said he is not alone in the fight against graft and social evils.
Your Chowkidar is standing firm & serving the nation.
But, I am not alone.
Everyone who is fighting corruption, dirt, social evils is a Chowkidar.
Everyone working hard for the progress of India is a Chowkidar.
Today, every Indian is saying-#MainBhiChowkidar
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 16, 2019
What Opposition leaders said on PM Modi’s statement
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said, “Deeply concerned about the fact that the PM was silent for so long. None of us could understand it.”
“We are very glad that he broke his silence, now we would like him to approach the issue in Parliament to discuss it…We want to discuss it when he speaks inside the Parliament. He has spoken outside the Parliament, to the media. I am very glad, he has at least raised his voice. Now, let him bring the voice to the Parliament itself.”
Also, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, “…PM was compelled to react on the video because it has become viral now…Genocide is going on there…”
He Tweeted, “The PM@PMOIndia at last spoke on Manipur after 2 Months of continuing Genocide of Kuki tribes,question that the Govt must answer but for the horrible video will Modi have reacted?”
It took 78 days for PM Modi’s heart to “break” but at the cost of two women’s dignity?
PM Modi spoke about the incident on July 20, hours after the video took social media by storm on June 19. (But the incident took place on May 4).
According to the complaint, on May 4, approximately 800-1,000 individuals armed with sophisticated weapons like AK Rifles, SLR, INSAS, and .303 Rifles, entered a village in Manipur.
The mob allegedly looted shops, vandalised properties and houses. Also, the complaint read that, they are suspected to be members of the Meitei community, belonging to organisations like Meetei Leepun, Kangleipak Kanba Lup, Arambai Tenggol and World Meitei Council.
Amid the commotion, five villagers — two men and three women — managed to escape to the nearby forest. However, they were abducted by a mob, nearly 2 km away from a police station.
According to the complaint, the mob first killed one man, and later forced three women to strip naked. A 19-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped, and her brother was killed when he tried to intervene. The women escaped afterwards.
Four arrested in this crime
Manipur Police informed that four main accused has been arrested in the Viral Video Case. The State Police also said that it is making all out efforts to arrest the other culprits at the earliest.
Four main accused arrested in the Viral Video Case :
03 (three) more main accused of the heinous crime of abduction and gangrape under Nongpok Sekmai PS, Thoubal District have been arrested today. So total 04 (four) persons have been arrested till now.
1/2
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) July 20, 2023
#WATCH | On Manipur viral video and NCW's letter to the state authority, Commission's chief Rekha Sharma says, "…We are in touch with the officers from Manipur…Not one specific but there were many complaints and that too from people outside India and outside Manipur. Firstly,… pic.twitter.com/KZUH4ZmgfV
— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2023
The shocking viral video from Manipur has left the entire nation in disbelief. The disturbing footage has caused widespread outrage and calls for immediate action to be taken against those responsible.
