AGARTALA: Tripura royal scion and TIPRA leader Pradyot Debbarma has expressed shock over the incident, where two Kuki women were being paraded naked, molested and gang-raped by a mob of Meitei men in Manipur on May 4.
Demanding justice for the victim Kuki women from Manipur, Tripura royal scion and TIPRA leader Pradyot Debbarma has demanded action against the Biren Singh-led BJP government in Manipur.
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He said: “The experiment of hate in Manipur will spread everywhere if people who are in-charge are not held accountable and heads have to roll.”
The TIPRA leader also stated that his party and the tribal indigenous populace from Tripura “stand with our sisters who have suffered this in solidarity”.
“Frankly speaking, I feel sick in my stomach. I feel disgusted,” said Debbarma.
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The TIPRA party leader also targeted Manipur chief minister Biren Singh over the incident, saying that he (Biren Singh) must have known about the incident from before.
“The chief minister said that he was shocked after seeing the video. Come on. He is the home minister (of Manipur). It’s a small state – Manipur. This video obviously was circulating around Manipur but we did not know about it because internet was banned,” he said.
Also read: Manipur outrage | INDIA turns heat on BJP, questions PM Modi over video of Kuki women paraded naked
He added: “But I am sure that the officials knew about it, he (Manipur CM Biren Singh) knew about it and he has to be held accountable.”
The TIPRA leader from Tripura also took a dig at the Manipur police for allegedly taking sides during the ethnic clashes in the state.
“All these times, we had been hearing that the police was taking sides. And this video shows that these allegation are not untrue,” said Pradyot Debbarma.
Meanwhile, under fire Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh stated that the state government is “considering the possibility of capital punishment” for those involved in parading two Kuki women naked.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh also informed that a “thorough investigation” into the case is underway.
“A thorough investigation is currently underway and we will ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment,” Manipur CM Biren Singh said.
It may be mentioned here that a disturbing video surfaced on social media showing two Kuki women being paraded naked on a road by a group of men from the Meitei community.
Also read: Manipur | Police present on spot but did not intervene: Women in video
The victims had also been allegedly subjected to gang rape in a nearby field.
The distressing video shows a mob of men molesting the two helpless Kuki women as they are forcibly taken toward a paddy field.
Reacting to the video, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said: “My hearts go out to the two women who were subjected to a deeply disrespectful and inhumane act, as shown in the distressing video that surfaced yesterday.”
Notably, the Manipur police has already arrested a person in connection with the case on Thursday (July 20) morning.
“After taking a Suo-moto cognisance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur police swung to action and made the first arrest this morning,” informed Manipur CM Biren Singh.
He added: “Let it be known, there is absolutely no place for such heinous acts in our society.”
Meanwhile, a day after the disturbing video of two Kuki women being paraded naked in Manipur by a mob went viral, the Supreme Court strongly denounced it labelling it a “gross constitutional failure”.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, on Thursday (July 20), called upon the government to take immediate action to ensure the safety of women in the region and requested regular updates on the steps being taken.
Warning of the top court’s intervention if the government fails to act, the CJI set a date of July 28 to take up the case.