Kuki women hold sit-in for justice, urge PM Modi to set up inquiry commission

Several thousand women from Churachandpur participated in the sit-in, braving showers at the beginning of the event

The sit-in at Churachandpur, Manipur, by protesters seeking justice for the two women who were paraded naked on May 4.

Umanand Jaiswal, TT, Guwahati, 22.07.23 : A rights body of Kuki women on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to set up an inquiry commission to provide justice to all the Kuki women and children victimised during the 11-week-old Manipur unrest.

The Kuki Womens Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) submitted a memorandum after a three-hour sit-in in Churachandpur district, protesting against the sexual assault of two Kuki-Zo women on May 4, a video of which was circulated on Wednesday and caused nationwide outrage.

The video shows a mob parading two purportedly Kuki-Zo women naked and molesting them. The incident in Thoubal district happened a day after clashes broke out between Meiteis and Kukis.

In the memorandum forwarded to Modi through the Churachandpur district collector, the women’s group cited at least 12 instances of the “gravest human rights violations” committed against Kuki women and children during the unrest.

Copies of the memorandum have been sent to the Chief Justice of India, Union home minister, National Commission for Women chairperson, National Commission for ST chairperson and the National Human Rights Commission chairperson.

Several thousand women from Churachandpur participated in the sit-in, braving showers at the beginning of the event. Representatives of the Kuki Inpi, Kuki Students Organisation and the Kuki Khanglai Lawmpi addressed the gathering.

Similar protests by Kuki women were held in Kangpokpi and Moreh. Naga women too held a protest in Ukhrul against the May 4 barbarity.

The memorandum says: “The KWOHR urges the government of India to urgently constitute an inquiry commission to address and redress the plight and grievances of the Kuki women (who are victims of sexual and physical violence) and children as per the relevant legal provisions and acts.

“Such a case of gravest human rights violation and cruelty on humanity is unheard of even in the Taliban-ruled states which the KWOHR cannot, and shall not condone at any cost!”

It castigates the local police station’s handling of the May 4 incident: “What is equally reprehensible is the manner in which the Nongpok Sekmai police station under Thoubal SP complicity by concealing the lodged FIR in this case. No wonder that Nongpok Sekmai police station was awarded the ‘best police station in India’ in the year 2020.”

The memorandum seeks a separate state for the Kuki-Zo community.

“We are only defending our land and our people from Meitei mobs,” KWOHR president Ngaineikim told The Telegraph.

“Many of our people have got killed and girls raped. Lots of bodies are lying in the morgues in Imphal. The viral video incident has left us shocked.

“We have mentioned similar cases of atrocities in our memorandum to the Prime Minister. We want justice for all and a separate state. There is no scope for coexistence.”

The memorandum lists at least 12 instances of alleged atrocities against Kuki women, including gang rape and murder. It refers to victims having been shot or burnt alive, and an alleged instance of “raping a woman in front of her husband”.

The valley-based Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, a conglomerate of influential civil society organisations, has “strongly” condemned the “barbaric and uncivilised act of violence on two ladies”.

It said it “firmly” believed that the Meitei community would not spare those involved in the “barbaric act” and would hand out “befitting punishment” to them.

Till Thursday, the police had arrested four people in connection with the May 4 atrocity. Local women have allegedly burnt down the house of one of the accused.

The strife in Manipur has till now claimed over 152 lives and displaced 60,000 people.