As a disturbing video from Manipur showing two Kuki women being paraded naked by a mob has surfaced online, sources said that the Indian government is likely to act against Twitter over the circulation of videos that could “lead to problems in law and order.”
According to an FIR filed concerning the incident where one woman was gang-raped, the crime occurred in B Phainom village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on 4 May, a day after clashes began in the state.
Manipur has been torn by violence for over two months as clashes broke out between the Kukis and Meiteis in the Indian state.
The Incident
The video shows a group of men walking alongside two naked women being led into some fields while some of the men are groping them.
A zero FIR was filed at Saikul police station on 18 May in relation to the incident, and forwarded to the Nongpok Sekmai police station later. A zero FIR can be filed in any police station and, unlike an FIR, is not restricted by jurisdiction.
The FIR contains charges of rape and murder against 800-1,000 “unknown miscreants.”
*All out effort to arrest culprits as regard to the viral video of 02 (two) women paraded naked :*
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) July 19, 2023
As regard to the viral video of 02 (two) women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May, 2023, a case of abduction, gangrape and murder etc
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As per the FIR, the mob burnt down houses in the B Phainom village and chased five people, including three women and two men who were fleeing.
This included a 56-year-old man, his 19-year-old son and 21-year-old daughter. Two other women, 42 and 52, were also in the group.
A team rescued these five people from the Nongpok Sekmai police station, but they were snatched from police custody by the mob near Toubul. The mob killed the 56-year-old man immediately while all three women were forced to strip.
The complaint states, “all three women were physically forced to remove their clothes and were stripped naked in front of the mob.”
While the 21-year-old woman was raped, the other two women escaped somehow.
Her brother was also killed after trying to stop the mob from assaulting the woman being raped.
The Manipur police said it was making an all-out effort to arrest the culprits at the earliest. “A case of abduction, gang-rape and murder etc. was registered at Nongpok Sekmai Police Station in Thoubal Distrcit,” the police press note stated.
According to the latest reports, the police have arrested one of the key accused seen in the video.
Assurances by PM Modi, Government Action Against Twitter
Indian PM Narendra Modi addressed the press regarding the incident and assured the nation that no guilty person would be spared. “Law will take its course with all its might. What happened with the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven,” Modi commented.
The Indian Supreme Court also directed the Union and State governments to take steps against the videos of women being stripped and paraded. The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, remarked, “We will give a little time for government to take action otherwise we will step in.”
Prime Minister @narendramodi says, the incident in Manipur has put 140 crore Indians to shame. He assures the people that the accused will not be spared.#MonsoonSession2023 pic.twitter.com/ehEsRIsH4R
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 20, 2023
Meanwhile, the Indian government has said that “Twitter has an obligation to not show such videos under Indian law and the government will take action as per law.” Sources said that the government is likely to act against Twitter over the circulation of videos that could “lead to problems in law and order.”
In an interview with India Today, Manipur CM N Biren Singh said that hundreds of similar cases have happened in the state, which is why the internet is shut down.
Manipur Violence
Violence broke out in Manipur on 3 May, with clashes killing at least 150 people, as reported to date.
The ethnic violence was triggered after the Manipur High Court asked the state government to consider the Scheduled Tribe Status for the Meitei community in Manipur.
Following the order, a Tribal Solidarity March was planned in the hill areas, and violence began with the Meiteis and Kukis clashing across the state.
The viral video has brought to the fore the gruesome situation in the state where internet services have been shut down for over two months.