A group of enraged women set ablaze the residence of an Indian man accused of orchestrating the public humiliation of two women in a northeastern state. A widely circulated video depicted two women, purportedly from the Kuki tribal group, walking naked in a street while being harassed by a mob allegedly from the Meitei community.
This incident is part of ongoing ethnic violence that began in May, pitting the primarily Christian Kuki against the predominantly Hindu Meitei over issues such as job quotas and land rights, resulting in at least 120 deaths.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the incident, expressing that it had brought shame to India. Police arrested four suspects, prompting women activists to set fire to the house of one of the accused in Imphal. The Meitei women, who share the same community as the accused, tore down the house’s walls and roof with sticks as the fire raged.
While India is generally known for its traditional and patriarchal values, the Meitei community has a history of women’s activism, with women playing a more prominent role in society compared to other regions. The video of the naked women triggered nationwide protests, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of the state’s chief minister due to the delayed response.
India’s Supreme Court warned the Modi government to take action, or they would intervene. The BJP-led authorities in Manipur claimed prompt action upon the video’s emergence, promising a thorough investigation and strict punishment, including the possibility of capital punishment for the perpetrators.
The violence in Manipur stems from Kuki protests against Meitei demands for reserved job quotas and college admissions, sparking concerns that they might also be granted land in areas currently reserved for tribal groups. This conflict has led to the torching of homes and churches, forcing tens of thousands to flee to government-run camps.
In a report to the Supreme Court, the Manipur Tribal Forum detailed numerous uninvestigated acts of violence, including rape and beheading. A disturbing incident on Twitter reportedly showed an aide to a BJP lawmaker in the state holding a victim’s severed head, disappearing from the platform within hours.
