Supreme Court to Hear Petitions on Manipur Ethnic Violence and Outrageous Video
India’s Supreme Court is set to hear several petitions related to the ethnic violence that has been unfolding in the north-eastern state of Manipur. One of the petitions has been submitted by two women who were victims of a shocking incident captured in a viral video. The footage showed the women being stripped naked and sexually assaulted by a mob. The incident took place in early May but only gained widespread attention this month.
The women, who are from the Kuki community, have requested a fair trial and protection of their identities. Another petition has been filed by the federal government, seeking to transfer the trial out of Manipur and expedite the process within six months.
Over the past three months, the violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has resulted in the deaths of at least 130 individuals and has displaced tens of thousands of people. In the video, the perpetrators of the assault were members of the Meitei group.
Although the police have arrested seven individuals in connection with the case, the first arrest was made only on July 20, a day after the video went viral. Opposition leaders have criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for not taking sufficient action to address the crisis in Manipur. It is worth noting that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power both at the national level and in the state.
Prime Minister Modi publicly commented on the incident after the video gained public attention, expressing his shame and assuring that those responsible would face consequences. However, he has not yet visited Manipur. Opposition leaders have presented a no-trust motion against the government, with the hope of compelling Modi to address the ethnic clashes in parliament.
A group of 21 opposition MPs recently visited Manipur to assess the situation firsthand. In a memorandum submitted to the state governor, they highlighted the complete breakdown of law and order in Manipur and the dire conditions in the relief camps. The delegation accused the federal and state governments of failing to protect the lives of individuals from both communities. They also criticized Modi for his perceived lack of concern.
In response, Anurag Thakur, a federal minister from the BJP, dismissed the visit as political tourism. He claimed that the government was prepared to discuss the Manipur issue from the beginning of the ongoing parliament session and accused the opposition of evading the matter.
Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the federal police would investigate the case related to the viral video. He also stated that progress had been made in talks between representatives of the Kuki and Meitei communities.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the petitions related to the Manipur ethnic violence is a crucial step towards justice and resolution for the victims. The court’s involvement is expected to bring attention to the urgent need for a fair trial and the protection of individuals affected by the violence. The situation in Manipur remains tense, and it is essential for the government to take swift and decisive action to mitigate the ongoing crisis.
