Supreme Court Takes Cognisance of Disturbing Video of Violence in Manipur

The Supreme Court has taken notice of a deeply disturbing video that went viral on social media. The video shows two women being paraded naked by a group of men in Manipur, and it is also alleged that the women were molested and later gang-raped by the same group. The incident reportedly occurred on May 4th in Kangpokpi district, around 35 kilometers from Imphal, as stated by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum. However, the police claim that the incident happened in a different district, although the First Information Report (FIR) was registered in Kangpokpi.

Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, expressed great concern and disturbance over the videos. He emphasized that the government must take action promptly, as such acts are unacceptable. He also condemned the use of women as tools to perpetuate gender violence, especially in an area marked by communal strife.

The violence in Manipur stems from ethnic clashes between the tribal Kuki and non-tribal Meitei communities. The tensions escalated after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' opposing the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe category and advocating for the rights and constitutional safeguards of the ethnic Kuki and their sub-tribes. The clashes have resulted in a significant loss of life, with over 157 fatalities, and displacement of more than 50,000 people.

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Amidst the ongoing violence, sexual violence against women has been the least discussed aspect. Several women, including a Kuki woman in her 40s and a teenager, were allegedly raped during the clashes. In the case of the 40-year-old and teenager from Kangpokpi, they were dragged to a paddy field and gang-raped by a group of intoxicated men, some as young as 15 years old. At least six alleged cases of rape have been reported, but none of the survivors had filed police complaints at the time, highlighting the challenges in seeking justice for such heinous acts.

Constitutional Violations

The Supreme Court considered the viral video a grave violation of constitutional rights and demanded to be informed of the government's actions to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for such violence. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also expressed concern over the video and assured the court that the government has taken immediate steps to bring the culprits to justice. The outcomes of these measures will be presented to the court.

This incident sheds light on the urgency of addressing sexual violence and ensuring the safety and security of women during times of conflict and communal tensions. The government and the justice system must take decisive action to hold those responsible for such reprehensible acts accountable and provide support and protection to the survivo