“If Government Doesn’t Act, We Will”: Supreme Court On Manipur Horror

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court today condemned what it called the “deeply disturbing” video of two women paraded naked in Manipur and said the visuals showed “gross constitutional failure”. The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, asked the government to take action and also keep the court apprised about the steps being taken to ensure the safety of women in the region.

If the government didn’t act, the Supreme Court would, warned the Chief Justice, adding that the court would take up the case on July 28.

“We are very deeply disturbed about the videos distributed yesterday. We are expressing our deep concern. It is time that the government steps and takes action. This is unacceptable,” DY Chandrachud said.

“If the government does not act, we will. We are of the view that the court must be apprised of the steps taken by the government so that perpetrators are booked for such violence. What is portrayed in the media and visuals which appeared shows gross constitutional violation,” the Chief Justice said.

In the video that has triggered massive condemnation and demands for action, two women were paraded naked by a mob, molested, and dragged to a field, where they were allegedly gang-raped.

The incident took place on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, some 35 km from the state capital Imphal, according to a statement by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF).

A day after the horrific video surfaced on the internet, Manipur police arrested a key accused. Heradas (32), was arrested from Thoubal district with the help of the video in which he was seen wearing a green T-shirt, the police said.

Violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The Kuki tribe has demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister. Over 120 have died in the ethnic violence and thousands have been internally displaced and are now living in relief camps.