Outrage in India after 2 women paraded naked in restive state

​​​​​By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – A video showing two women paraded naked by a mob in India's northeastern state of Manipur has triggered outrage.

The video which has gone viral shows two women from the state's Kuki tribe paraded naked on the road and pushed into a field by a mob.

Manipur Police in a statement said that "all-out efforts" are on "to arrest culprits" of the incident which took place on May 4.

"As regard to the viral video of 02 women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May 2023, a case of abduction, gangrape and murder etc was registered at Nongpok Sekmai PS (Thoubal District) against unknown armed miscreants and the investigation has been started," the police said.

- Sexual assault 'downright inhuman'

Smriti Irani, India's minister of women and child development, said the "horrific video of sexual assault of 2 women emanating from Manipur" is "condemnable and downright inhuman."

She said she spoke to Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh who said the investigation is currently underway and "assured that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice."

Singh said that police have made the first arrest in the case on Thursday morning.

"A thorough investigation is currently underway and we will ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment. Let it be known, there is absolutely no place for such heinous acts in our society." he wrote on Twitter.

- Incident dominates Parliament session

Both the houses of the parliament were adjourned for the day following a ruckus over Manipur by the members belonging to opposition parties who demanded a discussion over the issue.

Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the main opposition party Indian National Congress, said: "Humanity has died in Manipur" and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed "democracy and the rule of law into Mobocracy by destroying the delicate social fabric of the state."

"In this hour of crisis, we stand together with the people of Manipur," he said.

Local daily Hindustan Times said on Thursday that the federal government has asked social media platforms to remove the video.

Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said this kind of "heinous act cannot be tolerated in the Indian society."

"The situation in Manipur is becoming very worrying. I appeal to the Prime Minister to pay attention to the situation in Manipur," he wrote on Twitter.

People from other sections of society have also reacted strongly against the video.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar said he is "shaken, disgusted to see the video of violence against women in Manipur."

"I hope the culprits get such a harsh punishment that no one ever thinks of doing a horrifying thing like this again."

Chief Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud on Thursday said: "We are deeply disturbed by the videos which have emerged," and "what is portrayed in the media and visuals which appeared shows gross constitutional violation."

Ahead of the parliament session, Prime Minister Modi told reporters: "Law will take its course with all its might. What happened with the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven."

​​​​​​​Manipur has been witnessing deadly ethnic violence for the last two months.

Over 100 people have died in the lingering ethnic violence, while thousands have been displaced.

The violence started after a court ruling directed the state government to submit recommendations for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category, which enraged the state's tribal population.

There are three main communities living in the state: Meitei, Naga and Kuki.

Meitei are mostly Hindu. There is a greater percentage of Meitei in the state’s population. On the other hand, Nagas and Kukis are mostly Christians.