Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence on the ongoing violence in Manipur, after 75-days since the violence began, after a video surfaced showing the horrific treatment of two women from the minority Kuki tribe at the hands of the majority Meitei tribal group. The video depicted the women being forcibly stripped naked, paraded and allegedly gang raped.
The incident, which occurred on May 4, in B Phainom village in Kangpokpi district prompted widespread anger and demands for justice and has spread outrage across the nation. However, it wasn't until Thursday (July 20) that four arrests were made in connection with the disturbing event. Many have criticised the delay in taking action and alleged that the police failed to protect the victims, leaving them at the mercy of the violent mob.
Before the opening of the Monsoon session of the parliament, Modi condemned the attack and expressed his sorrow and anger, stating that "the entire country has been shamed" by the heinous crime. He assured the nation that the perpetrators would not escape justice and emphasised that appropriate action would be taken according to the law.
Modi has faced criticism for his prolonged silence on the escalating conflict between the Meitei and Kuki tribes, which has resulted in the deaths of over 140 people, primarily from the Kuki community and spoke-up on Thursday after the Supreme Court threatened to step-in, if the government did not.
The state of Manipur has now become divided along ethnic lines, with the Meitei community controlling the valley and the Kuki community in charge of the hills. Both sides have formed civilian forces, leading to violent clashes, destruction of villages, and the displacement of more than 60,000 people. Some members of the Kuki minority are now advocating for an independent state.
Outrage in the nation
Several political parties, members of opposition, Christian leaders, forums, platforms, bollywood and sports celebrities besides common people have reacted strongly to the inhuman and horrendous act against the women.
The United Christian Forum of North East India condemning the heinous crime released a press statement on July 20 demanding justice for the victims.
“The perpetrators, regardless of their affiliations or background, must be identified, apprehended, and brought to justice,” Allen Brooks, Spokesperson of UCFNEI told Christian Today. “We call upon the law enforcement agencies to expedite the process of verification of every individual shown in the video and ensure that the full force of the law is applied in their prosecution,” he said.
The Supreme Court also responded to the video, labelling it "deeply disturbing" and a "gross constitutional failure." Chief Justice of India, Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, criticised the government for its failure to bring the situation in Manipur under control. He called on the government to take immediate action, warning that the Supreme Court would intervene if necessary.
Former Indian cricketer and Minister of Parliament Harbhajan Singh demanding capital punishment for the guilty tweeted – “If I say I am angry, it's an understatement. I am numb with rage. I am ashamed today after what happened in Manipur. If the perpetrators of this ghastly crime aren't brought to the book and handed capital punishment, we should stop calling ourselves human,” said Singh.
To top it all, when chief minister Biren Singh was interviewed by India Today as to how his government was unaware of this incident, he responded by saying, "Hundreds of such cases similar to the incident have taken place. Hence, we had invoked a ban on internet in our state." Singh’s statement reveals that the administration is aware of such cases but has not taken any action against them.
The tragic events in Manipur have highlighted the urgent need for effective measures to address the ethnoreligious conflicts and protect vulnerable communities. As the nation seeks justice for the victims and accountability for those responsible, the focus remains on preventing further violence and ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens.
