Manipur Violence Highlights: All 4 accused sent to 11 day police custody

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday expressed displeasure over the Manipur incident and said that strict punishment should be given to the accused.

“It was a very sad and unfortunate incident. It fills the heart with pain and sorrow. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said and the country also wants that the strict punishment should be given to the accused. CM Biren Singh has expressed his resolve,” CM Chouhan said.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) women wing on Friday announced that the party will hold a protest against the Union Government for failing to stop harassment against women in Manipur.

According to an official statement, DMK Women's Wing Secretary and MP Kanimozhi will lead the protest which will be held in Tamil Nadu's Chennai on July 23.

Assam Chief Minister and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday alleged a political conspiracy in ‘leaking’ the 26 second video showcasing the sexual harassment meted out to two Kuki Zo women by a mob of Meitei men in violence strife Manipur. 

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.

A woman shaved her head here in Goa on Friday as a mark of protest against atrocities on women in violence-affected Manipur. A group of like-minded citizens organised a protest at the Azad Maidan in Panaji condemning alleged sexual assault on two women, captured in a viral video, and other atrocities in the north-eastern state where ethnic clashes have been taking place for more than two months.

Amid ethnic violence in Manipur that also took a sexual harassment turn after a viral video showing a mob of Meitei men parading a Kuki Zo woman, who was forced to strip naked came to the forefront, an organisation of former militants has asked Meiteis from Manipur to leave Mizoram for their "own safety" citing "anger among Mizo youths". 

Peace Accord MNF Returnees' Association (PAMRA) said, "The situation in Mizoram has become tense and it is no longer safe for Meitei people from Manipur to live in Mizoram in the wake of barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in Manipur."

"The PAMRA appeals to all Meitei people in Mizoram to leave for their home state as a safety measure," the statement read.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Raghav Chadha on Friday demanded that Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh should be sacked and President's rule be imposed in the state, which is engulfed in violence since May 3.

He also filed an adjournment notice under rule 267 for suspension of business notice in the House, saying the situation in Manipur is of paramount importance and demands urgent attention.

Chadha said his appeal to suspend all listed business and convene a special session to discuss the Manipur situation reflects the collective demand of the opposition MPs, who are deeply concerned about the escalating crisis in the northeastern state.

The MP also sought to corner Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, saying in 2017, he himself tweeted that those who cannot ensure peace in the state have no right to govern Manipur.

The Congress on Friday accused the government of not being serious on having a debate on the situation in Manipur and demanded that President Droupadi Murmu exercise her powers to dismiss the state government.

"Who is running away from a discussion. They want to make it a formality. I challenge the government, if they are serious, they should start a debate on Monday morning itself. The debate should carry on indefinitely till all parties express their views, including the treasury benches. We want the prime minister to give his statement on Manipur in Parliament," said Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari

"The video came out for the first time on July 18-19. Manipur CM N Biren Singh and the BJP Govt knew about this. Home Minister Amit Shah knew about it for a month, and PM Modi also knew about it. What happened to their conscience? As soon as the video came out, there was an uproar in the entire country. As a result, the accused was arrested within 24 hours...The Modi Govt and Manipur's BJP Govt are trying to push the people of the state into violence," says Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Manipur viral video

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.

All the four accused, who were allegedly part of a mob that disrobed and paraded two women in Manipur on May 4, were remanded to 11-day police custody on Friday, police said.

The arrests were made on Thursday, a day after the 26-second video surfaced on July 19.

Opposition parties for a second straight day blocked proceedings and demanded the sacking of the Manipur chief Minister N Biren Singh and his government. The official, CM N Biren Singh, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). 

The opposition shouted slogans demanding that all other parliamentary business be postponed and that a debate be launched on the violence, starting with a statement by Modi.

Violence in Manipur that broke out on 3 May, saw the death of at least 130 people, and several displaced. In the latest update, a viral video has emerged which show that two minority Kuki Zo women were sexually harassed by a mob of majority Meitei community men on 4 May and the Manipur authorities had taken no action till yesterday. 

"Action should be taken against the culprits as soon as possible. The PM has already said that no one will be spared," Rajya Sabha MP and former cricketer Harbhajan Singh

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray on Friday joined the mass voice pf criticism demanding the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh. 

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday also demanded imposition of President's rule after shocking visuals emerged showing two women being paraded naked in the violence-torn northeastern state. 

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray said the horrific incident in Manipur has maligned the image of the country in the world.

Renowned filmmaker Aparna Sen tagged the incident "narimedh yagna" (woman sacrifice). The director of movies like 'Mr and Mrs Iyer', '36 Chowringhee Lane' and 'Ghare Baire Aaj' broke down while talking to reporters and said, “I don't know what to say or how to react to such a happening ... All I can see is a narimedh yagna has taken place (in Manipur). Will it matter if I open my mouth? We have been giving our opinions for years. Have those mattered?”

Bengali actor Parambrata Chatterjee told PTI that the video has "stunned" him into silence. "I cannot believe that it actually happened when I see it. I shudder to think that this could have actually occurred in a civilised society. What has disturbed me mentally and shocked me more is that such an incident could happen in my country."

Painter Samir Aich said the shocking visuals of Manipur in the video, which surfaced on July 19 are a "blot" on the country. "It makes us wonder if we can take pride that the situation in our country is better than in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan."

DCW chief Swati Maliwal on Manipur viral video case, says, "Whatever has happened with the two girls in Manipur is shameful...The CM of Manipur has said that this is not an isolated case & this has been happening over a period of time...such serious complaints were received by NCW & they haven't taken any action. I will be going to Manipur the day after tomorrow, and I will review the situation of sexual assault against women there and find out what all steps & compensation have been taken with regard to the incident of the two girls who were paraded naked, brutally assaulted & raped..."

"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," says NCW Chief Rekha Sharma on Manipur viral video

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

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera on Friday asked why cannot Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeal to people of Manipur to unite together?

"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," asked Pawan Khera. 

The Mizoram State Commission for Women (MSCW) on Friday termed the Manipur incident as “unforgivable.”

It wrote to the National Commission for Women and its Manipur counterpart urging them to take immediate action against the perpetrators of the gruesome crime, MSCW chairperson Lallawmchhungi said.

"The commission is deeply concerned about the video in which two disrobed women are being forced to walk with hundreds of men behind them in Manipur. The act is unforgivable," she told reporters in Aizawl.

"We appeal to people to immediately stop any form of violence against women," she said.

The Manipur CM N Biren Singh has been facing increased demands for his resignation, after the incidence of sexual harrasment meted out to two KuKi Zo women by a mob of Meitei men came to the forefront. 

Amid renewed calls for his resignation and the ruckus in Parliament over a viral video Manipur, purportedly showing two women being paraded in the nude, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday evaded a question on the demand for him to step down, saying his job was to restore peace to the state and ensure that the perpetrators of the alleged incident in the viral video are brought to book.