If you are a resident of Manipur, violence and conflict are unfortunate realities you have become accustomed to. However, some acts of brutality still shake you to your core and make you question humanity. The recent release of a video showing two women from the Kuki community being paraded nude is one such incident that highlights how sexual violence is being used as a weapon to terrorize communities and gain power.
The video emerged on social media on Wednesday night, and since then has evoked some sharp reactions from all corners of our country.
But, that’s not enough even though we welcome the stringent actions that were taken against the assaulters. The women were not only paraded naked, but they were also sexually assaulted, which makes the plight of this incident even more pitiful.
We must condemn these sinister acts that violate the basic human rights of victims and strip them of dignity in the strongest terms. Using rape and torture as a strategy to assert dominance and instill fear is unacceptable. No cause or goal can justify such cruelty against innocent civilians.
While the decades-long insurgency in Manipur is complex with many nuances, certain lines should never be crossed. The weaponization of rape is one such line. As citizens, we must stand united against those who perpetrate such violence.
Justice and human rights must prevail.
History of the Conflict and Rights Abuses
Manipur, a state in Northeast India, has dealt with insurgency and unrest since the 1950s. The government deployed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 1980, granting broad powers to security forces which led to a culture of impunity. Since the eruption of the Kuki-Meitei clashes on May 3rd of this year, the demand for an independent Kuki administration has surfaced strongly. This inhumane incident is being viewed as a culmination of the separatist propaganda (the Kuki community trying to vie for the territorial administration of the Meitei community).
In this regard, we saw the surfacing of another news. The National Commission for Women (NCW) ignored a complaint filed on June 12 regarding instances of rape and violence against Kuki women in Manipur. The complaint mentioned the specific incident of two Kuki women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob on May 4, which recently went viral in a video. However, the NCW only took cognizance of the matter after the video went viral on July 20, nearly 38 days after receiving the initial complaint. The complainants claim that they never received a response or acknowledgement from the NCW to their June 12 complaint, which detailed multiple instances of rape, sexual assault, murder and violence against Kuki-Zomi women allegedly perpetrated by Meitei mobs. They also expressed disappointment that the NCW only responded after the video went viral, despite being informed of the May 4 incident in the initial complaint filed 38 days prior.
The primary reason for the latest violence in Manipur is the targeting and marginalization of the Kuki community by the state government. The current administration has dismissed serious Kuki grievances for years, permitting their discontent to reach a boiling point. Over the years, the state government has utilized the influx of Kuki asylum seekers from Myanmar to fuel Meitei nationalism and portray the Kukis in a negative light. The government has arbitrarily expanded reserved forests and evicted Kuki villages without proper consultation or compensation, making the Kukis feel alienated.
While the government claims the Kukis are encroaching on forest land, it has failed to sufficiently consult the Kuki community on environmental protection initiatives that affect them. The lack of political agency and autonomy for the hill districts inhabited by Kukis has also contributed to tensions. For genuine reconciliation to happen in Manipur, the state government and Meitei society must recognize how the Kukis have been marginalized and ignored, and that the government failed to protect vulnerable communities from violence.
The Urgent Need for Justice and Reconciliation
In India, a country that reveres women according to its scriptures, it is disheartening to witness the routine acts of violence committed against them. The recent shocking incident in Manipur, where two women were paraded naked, has rightfully sparked outrage and condemnation across the nation. Even the Supreme Court has expressed deep concern, emphasizing that using women as tools during communal conflicts is never acceptable.
People often take to the streets, hold protests, and raise their voices against certain rape cases, while ignoring others. Political parties are no exception, conveniently choosing which incidents to prioritize based on their political agenda. If the government had stayed vigil right from the beginning, unpleasant incidents like these could have been avoided.
It is essential to remember that the gangrape of a minor in Jodhpur, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, or West Bengal is no different from the one in Manipur. Raising national concerns should not be confined to political convenience. We must not forget the gangrape of a minor Dalit girl in Bikaner or another minor in Jodhpur, which received little national attention.
This selective outrage over rape incidents leaves women perplexed, as political parties engage in debates over the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) instead of prioritizing concrete actions to address gender inequalities and protect women's rights.
Politicians need to reflect on the shallowness of their outrage over the Manipur incident and focus on implementing genuine efforts to create a fair and just society for everyone. Women in our country deserve more than mere political posturing – they deserve concrete actions to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all.
India must recognize that the systemic use of rape as a weapon of war constitutes a crime against humanity. There must be a sincere effort to pursue truth, justice, and accountability in Manipur if there is to be any hope for lasting peace. Condemning such acts is not enough. Urgent action is needed to remedy the immense suffering that has already been inflicted on Manipur’s women. Real change can only happen when justice and human rights are valued over militarism. The time for reconciliation is now.
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