The U.S. has expressed profound concern in response to a deeply unsettling case of sexual assault in Manipur, a northeastern state in India. The assault case involving two women being publicly stripped and paraded has caused national and international outrage.
The Incident and Its Consequences
The horrific incident occurred over two months ago amid an intense ethnic clash between the Kuki tribe and the predominant Meitei ethnic group. However, it was not until the recent spread of the video footage on social media that the event caught the attention of the nation and the world.
According to the victims’ accounts, both women, ages 19 and 21, were brutally violated and exhibited naked by a mob during the height of the dispute, primarily centred around possible amendments to the Kuki’s economic benefits. The viral video documenting the horrifying event has sparked widespread fury, prompting police to make several arrests.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department described the incident as a “brutal” and “terrible” act, extending the country’s sympathies to the victims. Following the violent clashes, New Delhi deployed a significant number of army and paramilitary forces to Manipur, a state of approximately 3.2 million people, effectively quelling the immediate turbulence.
Despite these measures, however, sporadic episodes of violence and killings have resumed, casting a palpable tension over the state. In the aftermath of the violence, the death toll has risen to 125, with more than 40,000 people displaced.
In light of these ongoing issues, the State Department spokesperson stated that the U.S. encourages a peaceful and inclusive resolution to the violence in Manipur. They further urged the authorities to attend to the humanitarian needs arising from the conflict while ensuring the protection of all groups, homes, and places of worship.
Additional news input is taken from Reuters
