Manipur violence highlights: All four accused remanded to 11-day police custody, reports cite police

After Delhi women's panel chief Swati Maliwal alleged that National Commission for Women (NCW) failed to act even after knowing about the Manipur incident, NCW chief Rekha Sharma on Friday said it is wrong to state that the Commission was sitting on complaints.

The NCW chief clarified that whenever complaints came, they forwarded and wrote to the Director General of Police and Chief Secretary of Manipur.

"It is wrong that NCW was sitting on the complaints. There are some people who are there to malign NCW and the Govt of India that we are not doing anything. This is wrong. Again, I would like to clarify that whenever the complaints came, we forwarded and wrote to DG and CS of Manipur", Rekha Sharma said.

(ANI)

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday questioned the timing of the release of a viral video, showing two women being paraded naked in strife-torn Manipur, just a day before the commencement of Parliament's monsoon session and claimed that politics was behind the leak.

Addressing a press conference here, Sarma claimed that incidents of rape are much higher in some opposition-ruled states like West Bengal, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh than BJP-ruled Manipur or other northeastern provinces.

"The case (regarding the incident) was registered long back, video was available. It was leaked a day before the commencement of the Parliament session. So, some kind of political things are involved," he added.

Sarma, however, said in the same breath that it was a gruesome incident and it cannot be condoned despite the timing of the release of the video.

(PTI)

“Our delegation met with the hon'ble Governor of Manipur to ensure the safety of women in the state. We don't want to see any girl or woman harassed or molested. We requested the Governor to get a list of all the cases of violence against women in the state,” says President of All India Mahila Congress Committee Netta D'Souza. 

Scores of people on Friday staged a demonstration in Delhi to demand an end to the violence in Manipur and the restoration of peace in the strife-torn northeastern state.

They also demanded strict action against the culprits involved in disrobing and parading naked two women in the state.

Tension mounted in the hills of Manipur after the May 4 video showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a group of men from the other side surfaced on Wednesday.

Activists led by the All India Students' Association and the Krantikari Yuva Sangathan gathered at Jantar Mantar for the protest with placards and banners that bore messages such as "CM Biren Singh must resign" and "End violence in Manipur".

(PTI)

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and its various wings on Friday organised separate programmes to condemn the violence in Manipur and express solidarity with the two women whose video of being paraded naked has gone viral.

The APCC organised a ‘Bonti Projolon Karjyaxuchi’ (earthen lamp lighting programme) at the state headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, here in the evening.

Leaders and members of the opposition party participated in the programme as a show of support for the two women.

“The viral video has grabbed the world’s attention on the situation in this Northeastern state and the inability of the BJP government in the state and the Centre to resolve the ethnic strife. By lighting the lamps, we want to pray for peace to return to Manipur,” the APCC said in a statement.

(PTI)

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Friday expressed its deep concern and condemnation regarding several incidents of violence in Manipur including women being paraded naked by a group of armed men.

"Such incidents in Manipur which have been taking place since have not only brought suffering among the people of Manipur but also have led to the loss of several lives," SCBA said.

Advocate Rohit Pandey, Secretary of Supreme Court Bar Association said that the Executive Committee has expressed its deep concern over the incidents which have tarnished the humanitarian ethics to its core.

"We categorically condemn the gender-based violence and humiliation as it has far-reaching consequences on the victims' physical and psychological well-being," SCBA said.

(ANI)

AAP MP Harbhajan Singh on viral video case, says, “...This incident in Manipur was a very sad incident and such a scene is a very shameful thing for all of us, such things happen in our country. And we are tolerating and there is a limit to tolerance. Yesterday PM also said that action will be taken against such people and we hope that it will be done soon because it is very important to set this example. Every day some or other incident happens that we all Indians have to feel ashamed of...some people who show Indian culture down or do such work, strict action should be taken against them...”

(ANI)

BJP MP Locket Chatterjee broke down on Friday recounting cases of atrocities against women, including them being allegedly disrobed, in West Bengal and asked if such incidents will get attention only if their videos go viral.

The BJP also highlighted cases of similar crimes in Rajasthan as it amped up its campaign against opposition parties over the issue of atrocities against women, amid its rivals targeting it over a video of two women being paraded naked by a mob in strife-hit Manipur.

Alleging that a "Manipur-like" situation prevails in West Bengal, state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, who was joined by Chatterjee at a press conference, claimed that a woman was paraded naked in South Panchla for daring to contest the recent panchayat polls in West Bengal.

(PTI)

The Tamil Nadu Youth Congress staged a protest here on Friday condemning the violence unleashed on women in Manipur, sought justice for them and the dismissal of the state government. 

Holding 'Save Manipur' placards, the party workers raised slogans against the central and Manipur governments denouncing the barbarity targeting women. 

Slamming the BJP, Youth Congress TN president Lenin Prasath alleged not only in Manipur but in several other parts of the country, weaker sections including the Dalits and minorities were being oppressed by the Saffron party. 

On Manipur violence, he said justice must be rendered to the victims and he demanded that the perpetrators of the heinous crime be hanged to death.

 "Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh must have already resigned. He has, however, not done that. The state government must hence be dismissed by the Centre and President's rule must be imposed," he told reporters. 

(PTI)

All four accused remanded to 11-day police custody, say Manipur police in the viral video case.

(ANI)

"If PM Modi can go to Manipur to seek votes why can't he go there to appeal to people to unite together? Now, this country has hope only from the President who should dismiss the state government," says Congress leader Pawan Khera.

PTI

“We want an immediate end to the violence in Manipur, we want a resolution to bring all these heinous crimes to an end,” says a woman protesting in Delhi over Manipur situation.

(ANI)

BJP MP Gautam Gambhir on Friday termed the incident of two women being paraded naked in Manipur "extremely shameful" and said he feels ashamed to call himself an Indian.

The cricketer-turned-BJP MP from East Delhi told reporters on the sidelines of an event that Manipur-like incidents are not a common occurrence and it is the duty of the state's chief minister to not let these happen.

"It is extremely shameful. I feel ashamed to call myself an Indian because the issue is not only limited to Manipur. It has lowered the head of the entire country, so it should not be politicised," Gambhir said.

Tension mounted in the hills of Manipur after the May 4 video showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a group of men from the other side surfaced on Wednesday.

(PTI)

More women battalion are needed in Manipur to tackle those posing as 'Meira Paibis' (women torch bearers) as they have not only "prevented" movement of central paramilitary forces in the strife-torn state but also "helped" in carrying out serious crimes, according to security officials.

The Assam Rifles has a skeletal presence of women and the officials feel that they are not trained for a law-and-order situation.

Officials engaged in maintaining law and order in the state have been pressing for more women paramilitary forces in the state especially those from Rapid Action Force (RAF), who are completely equipped with their riot gear.

(PTI)

“Manipur was burning for 2 months, houses were set on fire, women were being tortured, children had no roof over their heads and PM Modi did not give any statement for 77 days. He spoke yesterday after a horrifying video went viral. In that statement also, he mixed politics… He even took the name of the opposition states in his statement,” says Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

(ANI)

"Manipur is burning & horrific videos have come to light. The govt should hold discussion on it. Why is it running away? There is a double engine govt still all this violence in the state...," says AAP MP Raghav Chadha on Manipur issue.

(ANI)

Women in India's northeastern state of Manipur attacked the house of the main suspect in a sexual assault case that has enraged the nation, police said on Friday.

The person allegedly dragged two tribal women onto the streets in May and later incited a mob to rape and parade them naked, police said on Friday, as ethnic clashes engulfed the state. 

The sexual assault took place over two months ago but it captured national attention after a short video went viral on social media earlier this week.

The main suspect, a resident of violence-hit Manipur state, was arrested on Thursday hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the alleged sexual assault as "shameful" and promised tough action. Three others also were arrested and a police official said were tracing at least 30 others involved in the crime.

"Local women pelted stones and burnt some parts of the house belonging to the prime accused in a village," said Hemant Pandey, a senior police official in capital city Imphal. "We request women to protest peacefully as there is intense unease. We understand their rage," he said.

(Reuters)

The JD(U) and a number of social organisations in Manipur criticised the "late response" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Manipur, saying had he spoken out earlier and paid attention, the crisis in the northeastern state by a mob of women could have been averted.

Modi, they said, has expressed anguish over the video of two Manipuri women being paraded naked by a mob but has still not spoken "a single word" about the killing of about 160 people and burning down of at least 4000 houses since the violence broke out in the state on May 3.

JD (U) Manipur unit spokesperson Nimaichand Luwang told reporters on Thursday, "The prime minister's response was late. He remained silent for 79 days though people in both hill and valley areas of Manipur have been suffering immensely. What was the Centre doing for more than two months?"

(PTI)

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said,"You (BJP) gave 'Beti Bachao' slogan, where is your slogan now. We express our solidarity with the people of Manipur. Today Manipur is burning, the whole country is burning. In Bilkis Bano's case, the accused were released on bail. In the wrestler's case (Brij Bhushan Singh) was also granted bail...The women of the country will throw you out of the country's politics in the coming elections," reported ANI. 

"Our women members wanted to speak on this (Manipur issue), but they were not allowed to speak," said Maharashtra Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat on opposition walk out of state Assembly, reported PTI. 

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Manipur viral video told ANI, "I had raised the question in the parliament but wasn't given a chance. Govt should discuss this issue and we demand PM Modi to release a statement...PM Modi made a statement outside the House, while he should have done that inside the House..."

National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma on Friday said she had reached out thrice in the last three months to authorities in Manipur over incidents of violence against women but no response was received from them. Read full story

“I feel the opposition is not serious about the discussion on the Manipur issue. The government wants to discuss the Manipur issue. PM Modi himself said that the country is ashamed of whatever has happened in the state and assured strict action. Still, if the opposition does not want to discuss it only means that they are not serious,” Union minster Rajnath Singh told reporters.  

“Yesterday, before the commencement of the parliament session, PM Narendra Modi gave a statement as to how the nation hangs its head in shame for what has happened in Manipur. It is a serious & sensitive issue that the state was going through, all communities were suffering...The perpetrators will have to be caught, some arrests have been made yesterday & I am sure no effort will be left unaddressed in getting these people arrested,” said Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman.