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| Nude parade and gang-rape of women in Manipur: How sexual violence is being used as a weapon in ethnic riots? |
In a disturbing video during the Manipur riots, an angry mob strips two women and sexually assaults them. It clearly shows who pays the highest price in violent incidents and ethnic riots.
(#Sexualviolence #sexualviolenceawarenesscampaign #sexualviolenceawareness #sexualviolenceeducation #sexualviolenceprevention #sexualviolenceviolenceawareness #sexualviolenceatLU)
Warning: This article contains details that may be disturbing to readers.
The incident of sexual crimes against women took place almost three months ago, but it only came to light when its video went viral on Twitter on Thursday. According to the case registered by the police, a woman was also gang-raped during this time. The women's complaint states that a third woman was stripped but cannot be seen in the video.
In the video, it can be seen that the women are being sexually assaulted and the assailants are taking off their clothes and making them walk around the area. The faces of the men are visible in the video, but only one person has been arrested for gang rape so far, while a total of four people have been arrested in the case.
Since May this year, ethnic riots have been going on between the Methi and Kuki communities in the northeastern state of Manipur, India. Eyewitnesses described painful incidents of shootings, looting, and sexual crimes during this time.
According to a report by the website 'The Print', the recent violent incidents started after the spread of fake news of rape and murder of women belonging to the Meiti community, and the recently viral video was made in response to this. The report claimed that "the angry scavenging mobs ushered in a new era of violence against Kuki tribal women."
Rape has been used as a weapon during the struggle between armed and militant groups.
The most violent events in the South Asian region, such as the partition of India in 1947, the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971, the anti-Sikh riots in 1984, the civil war in Sri Lanka, the Gujarat riots in 2002, etc.
The accounts of the victims reveal that women from other communities are raped for revenge and honor.
Similarly, the government deployed the army and other security forces to quell fighting in Indian-administered Kashmir and the northeastern states, but they too have been accused of sexual violence.
Anuradha Chennai, a former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, says, "The crime and cost of violence against women's bodies is hidden." Various women's movements have been trying to bring attention to it for decades.
Meanwhile, the state's inattention worsens the situation.
This incident of sexual violence took place in Manipur on May 4. A relative of the victim women said in the complaint filed with the police that two men and three women of a Kuki community family were trying to escape to avoid looting and violence in the village. He was rescued by a police team but was later accosted by an angry mob. According to him, the mob killed two men while forcibly disrobing the captured women.
The complaint states that a 21-year-old woman was 'gang-raped in broad daylight' while the other two women managed to escape.
Vikram Singh, the former police chief of the state of Uttar Pradesh, has said that this "shameful" incident raises serious questions about the performance of the police and the administration.
"The administration of no country in the world is so helpless and unhelpful as India that they cannot stop such behavior towards women." He says that apart from the criminals, the police officers under investigation should also be punished.
The first arrest in the case was made on Thursday morning when the video was released on Twitter and the country's Supreme Court termed it as 'deeply disturbing'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who often talks about empowering women and educating girls, has so far not spoken publicly about the crisis in Manipur. Common citizens and opposition leaders also criticize him on this matter.
He broke his silence a few hours ago and said that he was suffering from pain and anger. He has also promised to give severe punishment to those responsible.
But the question still remains why this initiative took so long? Especially when the faces of the criminals can be clearly seen in the viral video.
"Justice is the state's responsibility," says Vrinda Grover, who has advocated for victims of sexual violence. But in most cases, the state and the administration remain missing in the battle for justice.
He says that after the intervention of the Supreme Court, an arrest 'miraculously' takes place, but this cannot be a ray of hope for the victims.
Khushboo Sunder, a member of Manipur's ruling BJP, has described the video as "horrifying" and "unacceptable".
She says that this is a complete failure of law and order. However, this is not the time to make accusations.
According to him, all the political parties have to remove their objections and come together against violence in Manipur.
Lawyer Varisha Farast has researched the 1989 riots in the state of Bihar in which more than 1,000 people were killed. They say the government set up two commissions to investigate the incidents, none of which made allegations of sexual violence or rape part of the report.
TheyShe says, "I did research 21 years after the incident and talked to people who were reluctant to talk." Families were only willing to discuss cases in which victims died as a result of violence. Perhaps because there was no shame surrounding rape for them in these cases.
Sexual violence often goes unreported in India because traumatized victims fear being kicked out by their families or ostracized from society.
Varisha Farasat says victims of sexual violence in conflict-affected areas face multiple traumas, such as the death of the sole breadwinner in the household. This makes them reveal their experiences as little as possible.
However, she adds that reluctance to talk about rap isn't always due to shame.
"The problem is that when women come out to speak, they don't get justice. This is what needs to change.
Although there are many examples of justice in rape cases, it takes years. They belong to the downtrodden classes who are usually forced to move away from home.
This year, two Hindu men were sentenced to 20 years in prison for the gang-rape of a Muslim woman during the 2013 communal riots in Uttar Pradesh. According to Grover, this was a historic decision, but initially, seven women had approached the court alleging sexual violence.
"Eventually only one woman stood up and testified against her attackers."
Bilqis Bano is another example who was gang-raped, Farast said. He saw 14 members of his family killed by Hindu mobs during the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the state of Gujarat.
But the 11 convicts in the case were released early from jail last year by the BJP government in the state.
When these convicts were freed on India's Independence Day, their relatives celebrated by feeding them sweets and touching their feet. Reports said that the men were also garlanded by activists of an extremist Hindu organization.
She says that in the case of Bilqis, the wheels of justice turned in his favor, but now the criminals have come out again. Nevertheless, Bilqis is among the few victims who have received some justice. She was able to fight her case. He is a rare example because he fought the case against the rules.
Grover says the state often compensates victims, but they need redress for human rights violations.
This includes rehabilitation of victims, a guarantee of non-recurrence of attacks, and support at the socio-economic level.
What needs to be eradicated, Varisha Farasat added, is the culture of impunity that grows stronger with every new incident that occurs.
"Not only the angry crowd but the police officers and politicians, everyone needs to be held accountable."
(#Sexualviolence #sexualviolenceawarenesscampaign #sexualviolenceawareness #sexualviolenceeducation #sexualviolenceprevention #sexualviolenceviolenceawareness #sexualviolenceatLU)