Two suspected men's homes were burned down, and Indian women paraded naked on the streets, sparking protests from protesters in India
According to a report by Agence France Presse on July 21, footage released on Indian social media on the 21st showed angry women setting fire to the homes of two men accused of escorting two women naked on the streets in Manipur, India, where racial conflicts have been occurring for several months.
A group of women activists threw bundles of dry firewood into a suspect's home in Impal and set it on fire. While the fire was raging, the women used wooden sticks to push down the walls and roof of the house. These women, like the suspects, are all from the Meitai tribe.
Meanwhile, another group of women burned down the residence of the second suspect, and photos showed them burning the house to ashes and steel bars.
The report states that India is generally a country of traditionalism, conservatism, and patriarchy, but the Mehtai people have a history of women's radicalism, where women hold a more prominent position than elsewhere.
On the 21st, a video of a woman walking naked on a street sparked protests across India, with protesters demanding that the Chief Minister of Manipur resign due to delayed action.
Hundreds of women gathered near Impal to protest. One of the protesters said, "Can a normal person do such a thing? Even cats, dogs, and animals would never do such dirty behavior. This is not the way humans treat their own kind."
The Supreme Court of India warned the Modi government on the 20th that if the government does not take action, "we will take action.".
According to the website of Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao, a humiliating video shot on May 4 showed that a group of Indian men held sticks and forced two naked women into the fields. During this time, some people slapped women, mocking and harassing them. One of the victimized women was also sexually assaulted by the rioters, while the father and brother of the two women were killed by the rioters.
Once the video was released, it immediately triggered criticism from the entire population of India.
In order to prevent the further spread of the video, the Manipur authorities also shut down the local Internet system. The chief minister of the state, Singh, promised that the authorities are "thoroughly investigating" the incident, stating that "we will ensure strict action is taken against all perpetrators, including considering the possibility of sentencing to death.".
It is reported that the day before this inhumane violence occurred, there was a fierce conflict between the Hindu Mehtai tribe in Manipur and the Christian Naga and Kuki tribes. The local riots have resulted in 73 deaths, 243 injuries, 1809 houses burned down, and 26000 people displaced.
Two female victims were from the Kuki ethnic group, and one victim said that the police were also present at the scene when the incident occurred, but did not provide any assistance.
The website of Deutsche Welle Radio also reported that the video of two women parading naked on the streets in Manipur shocked the whole of India. Protests erupted across India on the 21st, and protesters demanded the resignation of the state's chief minister due to dissatisfaction with his delayed action.
The Supreme Court and Prime Minister Modi of India condemned the incident on the 20th. At the same time, racial violence in the affected region of Manipur continues.
The European Parliament urges India to protect ethnic minorities and take action against the violence in Manipur. The Supreme Court of India has also demanded that central and local governments take immediate measures to combat violence.
According to reports, Manipur has been in chaos for the past two months, especially in its capital Impal, due to ongoing violent clashes between the majority of the local population, the Mehtai tribe, and the minority, the Kuki tribe. After the Meitai tribe demanded special tribal status, a deadly conflict broke out between the two sides. According to the Indian Constitution, special tribal status can bring economic benefits, political power, and quotas for government work and education.
