Manipur Viral Video: The May 4 Gang Rape and Naked Woman's March
The recent upheaval in the Manipur violence is quite distressing. As per the recent updates on the Manipur crisis, a video has gone viral, where two women from one of the clashing communities being paraded naked by a group of men. The Manipur Police said the video was from May 4, the beginning phase of the violence. The Manipur Police on July 20 arrested two accused men seen on the video. The incident took place in B Phainom village, Kangpokpi district. The village was set on fire and two men were brutally beaten to death. A FIR was also filed the same day of the crime as one of the women was reportedly gang-raped. A relative of one of the women filed a Zero FIR at Saikul on the same day. The case was later transferred to the Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district where it was finally registered.
The FIR described, a mob of 1000 people attacked B Phainom village, which lead five villagers to escape into the forest, including three women. Police rescued them from the forest, but the mob seized the five and killed one of them, a 56-year-old man named Soitinkam Vaiphei on the spot. The mob forced the three women to strip and one of the women was brutally gang-raped. But the video shows only two women being attacked by the mob. The brother of the rape victim, who tried to protect his sister, was also killed by the mob. Eventually, the three women were successful to escape with help of the local people.
The Chief Justice of India, Dr D Y Chandrachud on July 20 had a meet with the Attorney General of India, Venkataramani, and the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, to address the disturbing incident in Manipur. The court expressed its great concern over the incident. The video depicts using of women as an object and an instrument of the communal strife, sexual violence against women which lead to gender violence and the violation of human rights. The Supreme Court directed both the Union Government and the State Government of Manipur to provide immediate updates on the actions taken in response to the incident. Chief Justice of India Dr Chandrachud also made an assertion that the government to take immediate action, also if the measures are not taken properly, the court will intervene. The case will be reviewed again on July 20.
PM Narendra Modi asserted, “The guilty won’t be spared.”
Union Minister Piyush Goyal allegedly claimed that the government was ready for the discussion on the Manipur issue but the opposition disrupted the proceedings.
Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned on the first day of Monsoon session, amid the Manipur crisis.
BJP government faced absolute wrath from the opposition. The opposition slammed the government over the violence in Manipur and the recent May 4 video.
Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi blamed PM Narendra Modi’s “silence and inaction” for the “anarchy” in Manipur.
Manipur’s fire is spreading fiercely, many women defied curfew and took to the streets of Imphal and various parts of Manipur on Wednesday to stage demonstrations, voicing demands, including the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and restoration of normalcy in the state.