Protest erupts in Manipur after two women ‘paraded naked’

MANIPUR: A massive protest erupted in Manipur’s Churachandpur area on Thursday after a video of two women being paraded naked by a mob surfaced on Thursday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s central government came under scathing criticism over its failure to curb violence in Manipur, where the two women were paraded naked on the street by a group of men.

According to the Indian media, one of the woman was also allegedly gang-raped before she was paraded naked.

Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh said in a tweet that police have made the first arrest pertaining to the case.

“A thorough investigation is currently under way and we will ensure strict action is taken against the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Supreme Court issued a statement saying it was “deeply disturbed by the images” and asked the government to inform the court of the steps taken to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure such incidents did not occur.

“In a constitutional democracy it is unacceptable,” said Indian Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said ahead of a parliamentary session that the incident had filled his “heart with grief and anger” and that “any civil society should be ashamed of it.”

The statement comes after Modi’s government has maintained a mysterious silence on Manipur violence.

At least 80 people have been killed, and more than 40,000 have fled their homes since ethnic and communal violence broke out between the Kuki and Meitei tribes of Manipur in early May.