A video of two women stripped naked and paraded by a mob in India has gone viral, causing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence on the ethnic and religious violence in the northeastern state of Manipur.
The footage was recorded on May 4, according to the alleged victims’ first information report (FIR), however an internet shutdown in the state caused the video to emerge only on Wednesday, July 19.
The horrific act occurred in B Phainom village in Kangpokpi district, about 40km from Imphal, the state’s capital. It happened as a result of ongoing violence in Manipur between the majority Meitei tribe, who are mostly Hindus, and the minority Christian Kuki tribe.
After B Phainom was torched and burned down, a Meitei mob allegedly told the Kuki women who appeared in the video, one aged 21 and the other aged 42: “If you don’t take off your clothes, we’ll kill you.”
The naked women were then paraded down the street as the mob repeatedly touched, jeered and harassed them, according to reports.
The 21-year-old alleged victim reported in her FIR she was taken to an empty field and gang raped by the mob.
The women reported that police were present at the time of the incident but did not act.
Authorities made four arrests on Thursday July 20, the day after the viral video emerged online.
The Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, made a tweet addressing the incident, claiming a thorough investigation is taking place.
“My heart goes out to the two women who were subjected to a deeply disrespectful and inhumane act, as shown in the distressing video that surfaced yesterday,” he wrote.
“Let it be known, there is absolutely no place for such heinous acts in our society.”
After two months of silence, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the video as well as the wider ethnic and religious conflict in Manipur in a press conference outside the Indian Parliament in New Dehli.
“I want to assure the nation, no guilty (people) will be spared,” he said.
“Action will be taken according to the law. What happened to the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven.”
The conflict between the two ethnic and religious groups has claimed the lives of at least 120 people and has displaced 50,000 people.
President of the Indian National Congress Mallijarjun Kharge posted a tweet on Thursday condemning Prime Minister Modi’s lack of action.
“Manipur is burning. Women are raped, naked, paraded and horrific violence is taking place,” he wrote in the tweet.
“But the Prime Minister has kept quiet for too long.
“Today, after so much outrage, he gave a statement outside the Parliament. We want a detailed discussion on Manipur and PM Modi should make an elaborate statement on the same in the House. We also demand immediate resignation of Manipur Chief Minister.”
Prime Minister Modi belongs to the Hindu nationalist party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It is the same political party that currently rules the state of Manipur.