Mother of girl, who was paraded naked in Manipur, demands capital punishment for accused

PTI, 30 JUL 2023, Imphal: The mother of a woman stripped and paraded naked in Manipur has demanded capital punishment for the culprits. 

She has also demanded to see the remains of her son and husband who died that day. 

Speaking after the a delegation of Opposition MPs met her during their ongoing visit to strife-torn Manipur, she said she does not trust the state government. 

She told PTI, "I trust the central government but not the state government."

Earlier this month, a video surfaced that showed two tribal women being paraded naked and groped in Manipur. The incident took place on May 4, a day after ethnic violence began in the state between the Meitei and tribal communities. Since the eruption of violence on May 3, over 150 people have been killed and several thousands have been displaced. Houses, places of worship, government buildings, and political establishments have come under attacks.  

A delegation of 21 MPs from the Opposition coalition INDIA reached Manipur on Saturday for a two-day visit of a state. They visited relief camps and met families of the victims. Speaking after the delegation met her, the mother of the 21-year-old victim of the May 4 incident said tribals cannot live with the Meitei community. 

She told PTI,  "The thing I want to convey is that we the tribals, the minority, we can't live with the Meitei anymore, and second, if possible I want to at least see the dead bodies of my son and husband."

When TMC MP Sushmita Dev and DMK MP Kanimozhi met the mother of one of the victims, she urged them to help her at least see the bodies of her son and husband, reported PTI.

Dev told PTI, "Her daughter was raped, and her husband and son were killed by the mob in the presence of Manipur Police but till today, not a single police officer has been suspended...They have got a huge shock. They are saying that there was a mob of more than 1,000 people, and they have made a specific demand, which I will raise with the governor."

Dev added that the woman alleged that she was raped in front of the police, but nothing was done to help her.

Dev claimed that the girl is scared of the police now. 

Dev said, "If a victim does not trust the police anymore then it is a constitutional crisis."

Kanimozhi said the victim's father served in the Indian Army and protected the nation, but could not protect his family.

"It is so sad to see a woman whose daughter was raped. She lost her husband and her son on the same day and there is no justice for them," she said.

The May 4 incident, which came to fore after the video went viral earlier this month, led to nationwide outrage. As the video came a day before the beginning of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, the Manipur situation has come under increased focus. Much of the session so far has been washed out as adjournments have taken place frequently amid heated scenes in the houses. The Opposition has called for a discussion on Manipur in the Parliament and has sought a statement on the situation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Centre has said that it's ready for a discussion and that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will respond to the debate, but the Opposition has stuck to the demand of a statement from Modi, who they have slammed for being silent on the issue. It was only after the nationwide outrage over the May 4 incident that Modi made first public comments on the Manipur situation. 

The Centre has transferred the investigation of the May 4 incident to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI has taken over the case. The Centre has also asked the Supreme Court to transfer the trial outside of Manipur. The Centre seeks the conclusion of the trial within six months of the CBI filing the charge sheet. 

In the May 4 incident, seven persons have so far been accused and the device used to record the video has been recovered.