Women Unite: Hundreds Of Thousands Of March In Protest Against Manipur Horror

IMPHAL, (IANS) – Thousands of women of both Meitei and Kuki communities, on July 21 organized massive protests across Manipur condemning the parading of two naked women by a mob in the state’s Kangpokpi district on May 4.

While condemning the crime, the protesters also questioned the “conspiracy” behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi breaking his silence only after 77 days, focusing on a particular incident, leaving out all other acts of violence in the ongoing unrest in Manipur.

Hundreds of thousands of women belonging to the Meitei community organized protests in five valley districts — Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching while the women belonging to Kuki communities held similar protests in the hill districts, including Churachandpur and Kangpokpi.

At the mammoth protests of the Kuki women, participants shouted slogans: “We Want Justice”, “Book the Culprits”, “We Want Separate Administration”, etc.

They also held banners and placards that read, “Punishment for Rape should be nothing but death”, “Rapists are nothing but monsters in a human face”, “The world’s most horrible crime committed against women”, “Barbaric acts never witness before”, “Worse than a Vietnam War”, “Address the Kuki-Zo problems”, “No Solution, No Rest”, etc.

The leader of one of the women’s organizations said that every mother and daughter’s heart is bleeding and broken, and “we are filled with pain and agony to witness the barbaric and inhumane act committed to our sisters”.

She also sought the support and cooperation of all women across the country in their commitment to upholding the principles of justice.

The protest, organized by various local clubs and Meira Paibis in the valley districts, expressed outrage and demanded justice for the two women victims, who were made to parade naked and sexually assaulted in a video that went viral on social media on July 19.

A mob of women set fire to the house of the main accused in the women parading case Huirem Herodas Singh (Meitei) at Yairipok village in Thoubal district late on July 20 evening, police officials said in Imphal.

The Manipur Police on July 20 night said that four accused, including Singh, have been arrested in connection with the shocking case.