Old video of Manipur women paraded naked emerges, Smriti Irani calls it ‘downright inhuman’, dials Biren Singh

Tensions are running high in the hilly areas of Manipur after a two-month-old video of two women being paraded naked surfaced on the internet on Wednesday.

The alleged incident took place on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, a day after violence broke out in the north-east state. A complaint filed in the matter said three women were stripped naked in front of a mob. They were part of a group of five people who were abducted by a mob following the violence that broke out the day before.

The mob also allegedly gang-raped one of the women – a 19-year-old, and her brother was killed when he tried to intervene.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh criticised the incident and termed it a “crime against humanity”. Talking to India Today NE, the chief minister said the state government has taken suo motu cognisance of the video and an investigation has been ordered.

“This is a crime against humanity. I asked the police to arrest the perpetrators as soon as the video came to my notice today. Action will be taken against police officers too if they are found to be negligent in taking quick action,” the chief minister said.

Reacting to the video, Union Minister Smriti Irani took to Twitter to call the incident “condemnable and downright inhuman”. Smriti Irani also said she dialed Chief Minister Biden Singh who assured her that “no effort will be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice”.

“The horrific video of sexual assault of 2 women emanating from Manipur is condemnable and downright inhuman. Spoke to CM @NBirenSingh ji who has informed me that investigation is currently underway & assured that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice,” Smriti Irani tweeted.

WOMEN FORCED TO STRIP NAKED
A complaint filed with the police mentions May 4 as the date of the incident in the Kangpokpi district. However, the FIR was registered in Thoubal district on June 21. A case of abduction, gang rape and murder was lodged against unknown people.

“All three women were physically forced to remove their clothes and were stripped naked in front of the mob,” the FIR states.

As per the complaint, on May 4, a day after the eruption of violence in Manipur, approximately 800-1,000 individuals armed with sophisticated weapons like AK Rifles, SLR, INSAS, and .303 Rifles, entered a village in Manipur.

They allegedly looted shops, vandalised properties and houses. According to the complaint, 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.

OPPOSITION CONDEMNS INCIDENT
The incident has drawn a sharp reaction from opposition parties, who questioned the BJP-led Manipur government. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) urged people to raise their voices against the issue, without sharing the disturbing visuals.

“AAP condemns this horrendous and continuous harassment of the helpless people of Manipur. AAP requests all citizens to refrain from sharing gruesome videos of helpless women. The public should raise their voice against this heinous act without sharing the video,” the party said in a statement.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “The incident in Manipur is very shameful and condemnable. This kind of heinous act cannot be tolerated in Indian society.”

The Trinamool Congress also condemned the incident and asked PM Modi to break his silence on the Manipur violence.

“All claims of Nari Shakti by the BJP ring hollow if we cannot ensure justice for the women of Manipur. Once again, we implore PM to break his 78-day silence & stand by the people of Manipur,” TMC said in a tweet.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also questioned PM Modi’s silence on the Manipur violence. “Why is the Central Government, Prime Minister sitting blindly on the violent incidents in Manipur? Do such pictures and violent incidents not disturb them?” she tweeted.

TRIBAL BODY DEMANDS ACTION
Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, a prominent tribal group, has urged the Centre and the state, along with the National Commission for Women (NCW) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, to take note of the horrifying incident. They have demanded action against those accused.

“The horrifying ordeal suffered by these innocent women is amplified by the perpetrators’ decision to share the video, which shows the identity of the victims, on social media,” the tribal body said in a release.

The Kuki-Zo tribals are planning to raise this issue as well during a proposed protest march in Churchandpur on Thursday.

MANIPUR VIOLENCE
Violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’, that was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Since then, over 150 people have lost their lives, and several others have been injured. Houses were vandalised, shops were looted and unrest was seen in parts of Manipur.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts.