Horror video of women paraded naked through crowd of groping men sparks outrage

20 July 2023 , 17:27
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Two Kuki women were paraded naked and groped by a mob in India
Two Kuki women were paraded naked and groped by a mob in India's violence-hit Manipur state (Image: CEN)

Horrific footage has emerged showing two women being paraded naked and groped by a mob of men in India.

The video has been shared online and shows the clearly distressed pair being led down a gravel road as their bodies are grabbed at. Armed men then usher them into a field before the clip, which the Mirror has chosen not to publish, ends.

The harrowing incident took place in B. Phainom village, in the Kangpokpi district, on May 4, according to a police report filed on May 18. It was the day after clashes broke out between the Meitei majority in the Imphal Valley and the tribal community from the surrounding hills. The ongoing violence is claimed to killed at least 140.

One of the women in the video - said to be in her 20s - claims her brother and dad were killed. The mob seen holding the pair captive are said to be members of Meitei organisations.

They have not yet been identified, but, according to the police they number 800 to 1,000 individuals. According to the report, they burnt down houses in B. Phainom and snatched two men and three women as they tried to flee.

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Horror video of women paraded naked through crowd of groping men sparks outrageArmed men lead them into a field before the clip ends (CEN)
Horror video of women paraded naked through crowd of groping men sparks outrageOne of the women claims her dad and brother were killed by the same mob (CEN)

The mob then killed one of the men and forced the women to strip, with two of them later escaping. The police say the remaining woman was gang-raped and that her brother was murdered when he tried to stop the assault.

Both women survived the incident, with one later telling local media: "Manipur's Police were present there, but they didn't help us." The other, who reportedly lost her two loved ones in the attack, reiterated: "They didn't do anything to help us."

Harrowingly, the first survivor recalled: "They took us to a bushy area. Three people held me and one gave out a call, 'Those who want to torture them, please come.'"

The second, contrary to what the authorities have said, has denied being raped. She told local media: "We were not raped by them - they just took off our clothes and touched our bodies."

Superintendent K. Meghachandra Singh of the Manipur Police said in a statement obtained by CEN on July 19: "As regard to the viral videos of two women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May, 2023, a case of abduction, gang rape and murder etc. was registered at Nongpok Sekmai PS (Thoubal District) against unknown armed miscreants and the investigation has been started. The State Police is making all-out effort to arrest the culprits at the earliest."

Indian lawmakers have demanded a debate on the issue, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the incident had "shamed India" and that "no guilty will be spared".

"I assure the nation, the law will take its course with all its might. What happened with the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven," he said.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said the Supreme Court was "deeply disturbed over the video" and warned the government "we will take action if you don't".

William McGee

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