In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage across India, a graphic video emerged on social media depicting two women being paraded naked and assaulted by a mob in Manipur, a northeastern state of India. The incident, which occurred amidst ongoing ethnic violence in the region, has drawn the attention of the nation's highest offices, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud expressing their condemnation and concern.
The video, which went viral on Wednesday, reportedly depicts an incident from May 4. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) stated that the video shows two women from the Kuki-Zo tribal community being forced to walk naked through a crowd of fully clothed men, many brandishing long canes or sticks as weapons. The women were allegedly assaulted by men from the majority Meitei ethnic group.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the situation in the state for the first time on Thursday, stating, "My heart is filled with grief and anger. The incident in Manipur is shameful for any civil society." He assured the nation that the law would take its course with all its might, adding, "What happened with the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven."
The incident has also drawn the attention of the Supreme Court, with Chief Justice DY Chandrachud expressing concern over the assault and stating that the court was "deeply disturbed over the video". He urged the government to inform the court about the steps being taken against the accused, warning that the court would take action if the government did not.
The incident has occurred amidst ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, with clashes between members of the majority Meitei and the Kuki tribal communities resulting in their complete segregation. At least 130 people have died and 60,000 have been displaced due to the violence.
The ITLF stated that the assault on the women took place after their village was burnt down and two men were beaten to death. The police have opened a case of gang rape and arrested a man, promising that others will be held soon.
The incident has been condemned by politicians across the spectrum. Federal minister Smriti Irani called it "downright inhuman", while opposition leaders criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party government for not doing enough to quell the violence in the state. Congress party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadhra said that the "images of sexual violence against women from Manipur are heart-wrenching".
The Indian government has issued an order to Twitter and other social media platforms, instructing them not to share the viral video, as the matter is currently under investigation. The Manipur Police have also issued a statement, promising a thorough investigation and strict action against all the perpetrators.
