Massive Outrage In Manipur As Horrific Video Emerges Of Woman Paraded Naked On Street, Gang-Raped

A woman stripped naked.

A group of men parading her on the streets like a trophy.

The men are smiling, laughing - all jolly, while the woman cries in anguish.

The incident recorded on video and posted online for all to see.

We watch, we express shock, and we move on.

But Manipur has come to a halt. Because Manipur is in turmoil.

AFP

Paraded naked and gang-raped

The horrific video of two women paraded naked on the streets of Manipur was shared recently.

The two women were gang-raped in a field, a tribal organisation has alleged.

This was from an incident that happened on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, around 35km from state capital Imphal, according to a statement by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF).

The statement by ITLF said, "...The despicable scene, which happened on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, shows the men constantly molesting the helpless women, who cry and plead with their captors."

"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 statement added.

This inhumane incident has drawn widespread condemnation from all. For over 75 days now, unspeakable crimes have been taking place in Manipur.

Perpetration of violence

The violence in Manipur began in the first week of May after a rally by the indigenous communities (including the Kuki community) against moves to grant scheduled tribe status to the main ethnic group (Meiti) in the state. It soon spiralled into a serious ethnic clash.

Houses have been ransacked and vandalised, vehicles set on fire, thousands displaced, and many killed in cold blood.

And all this perpetration by two communities who have lived side by side for decades.

Barbaric killing

On July 15, a 57-year-old Naga woman - Lucy Marem - was shot dead near the foothills of Keibi Heikak Mapal village in Imphal East district.

According to her family, Marem was mentally challenged and went missing on the morning of July 15 from her residence in Langol Games Village in Imphal West district. Next, they received a phone call at 2:30 pm from the police station asking them to identify her body.

Her cousin Tabitha said, "How can people be so barbaric, killing an innocent and harmless person brutally?"

The toll today is 140 people.

Woman and child burnt alive

Seven-year-old Tongsing Hangsing and his family had moved into the Assam Rifles camp on June 3rd.

As said by an officer, there was a firing between Meitei and Kuki villages on June 4, which were on either side of the camp. Bullets hit Tongsing, and his mother, and the child had to be taken to the hospital since he was reported to be critical.

The child, accompanied by his mother and their neighbour, Lydia Lourembam, was taken to the hospital.

The Wire reported that the Assam Rifles personnel accompanied the ambulance and police convoy for as long as possible before being stopped by the 'Meira Paibis' ¨C a powerful vigilante group of Meitei women. The ambulance then continued under police protection.

However, the ambulance was attacked and burned down. Tongsing Hangsing, his mother and their neighbour were burnt alive by the mob.

Arson attacks

A massive fire broke out in Manipur on July 11 that gutted four government quarters in Langol, Imphal West, with many blaming it on unidentified miscreants.

Northeast live TV

This is one among several arson incidents that have been reported from the state, as houses are set on fire by the mob.

In mid-June, the official residence of Manipur's only woman minister, Nemcha Kipgen, was set on fire.

On June 24, a group of people torched Manipur minister L Susindro's private godown at Chingarel in Imphal East district, reducing it to ashes.

PTI

Retired Lieutenant General from Manipur, Lt Gen L Nishikanta Singh, tweeted on June 15, "The state is now 'stateless'. Life and property can be destroyed anytime by anyone, just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, etc. It appears Manipur has been left to stew in its own juice. Is anyone listening?"

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.