The ‘shame of Manipur’ was out in the open on July 19 as a video of brutal gangrape, abduction and molestation of two women went viral on the social media leading to widespread condemnation of the state police and the government.
It took 76 days, and the viral video, for the people from outside the state to take notice.
The horrific video of two women being paraded naked by a group of men in Manipur, reportedly on May 4 last, has been shared widely on social media, drawing massive condemnation and calls for action.
Amid widespread criticism – from politicians to civil societies to netizens – Manipur police on July 19 tweeted that a case has been registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district.
“As regard to the viral video of two women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May, 2023, a case of abduction, gangrape and murder etc. was registered at Nongpok Sekmai PS (Thoubal district) against unknown armed miscreants and the investigation has been started. The state police is making all-out effort to arrest the culprits at the earliest,” the police tweeted.
The assault took place near the village, B Phainom, in Kangpokpi district on May 4.
While chief minister Biren Singh’s Twitter handle remained silent, NDTV reported that the CM ordered the police to investigate the case in priority. The report further claimed that Union women and child development minister Smriti Irani spoke to Biren Singh and the chief secretary on the horrific incident. She has been assured of speedy action against the perpetrators of the crime, Singh said, according to NDTV.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at prime minister Narendra Modi over the situation in Manipur and said “INDIA (newly-formed opposition alliance) will not stay silent while the idea of India is being attacked” in the Northeast state.
Gandhi’s remarks came after the video surfaced on July 19.
“PM’s silence and inaction has led Manipur into anarchy. INDIA will not stay silent while the idea of India is being attacked in Manipur,” Gandhi said in a tweet.
“We stand with the people of Manipur. Peace is the only way forward,” he added.
Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also cornered the government for the situation in the state. “The Aam Aadmi Party condemns this horrifying and continued ordeal of the helpless people of Manipur. The party requests all citizens not to aggravate the plight and humiliation of the helpless women and speak up against the sickening act without sharing the gruesome video. The inaction of the state and the central government is painful for all the citizens of the country. We again request the intervention of the prime minister in Manipur. Turning a blind eye to the problem will not make it go away,” a statement said.
#ManipurViolence was top trending on Twitter with united voices calling for peace in the state which has been marred by violence since the first week of May.
On July 19, there was no curfew relaxation in Imphal as well as other areas of Manipur as law-and-order situation worsened in the past two days. It is still not clear whether the curfew imposition will continue on July 20. Otherwise, there had been curfew relaxation from 5 am to 6 pm in the state capital of Manipur for the past several days.
Following the non-relaxation of curfew, classes in schools were cancelled. Shops and other business establishments also did not operate on July 19.
A security personnel was injured and two houses were torched on July 18 as violence continued unabated in strife-torn Manipur. A vehicle of a top official of Manipur police was also torched by a mob in Imphal on July 17 night. In the follow up action, the police arrested as many as 30 persons and efforts were on to arrest more people involved in the incident, the police said.
