India top court talks tough over Manipur women atrocity video: ‘If the government doesn’t act…’

We are very deeply disturbed about the videos distributed, said Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

• Shubham
• 20 July, 2023

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By: Shubham Ghosh

THE Supreme Court of India on Thursday (20) condemned the video showing a mob dragging two naked women to a field in the violence-rocked north-eastern state of Manipur where they were allegedly gang-raped, calling it “deeply disturbing” and said the visuals showed “gross constitutional failure”.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud asked the government to take action into the matter and keep the top court apprised about steps being taken to ensure that women are safe in the region.

He also warned that if the government failed to act, the top court would step in and take up the case on July 28.

“We are very deeply disturbed about the videos distributed yesterday. We are expressing our deep concern. It is time that the government steps and takes action. This is unacceptable,” Chandrachud said, according to NDTV.

“If the government does not act, we will. We are of the view that the court must be apprised of the steps taken by the government so that perpetrators are booked for such violence. What is portrayed in the media and visuals which appeared shows gross constitutional violation,” he was quoted as saying.

It may be mentioned here that prime minister Narendra Modi reacted to the incident the same day, saying the guilty would not be spared. The first arrest related to the case was also made by the state administration on Monday, 77 days after the incident happened.

While the video of the atrocity surfaced on social media on Wednesday (19), the incident reportedly took place on May 4, a day after deadly clashes broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur. The state is yet to witness restoration of peace even as more than 100 lives have been lost and several thousands rendered homeless.

The incident of May 4 took place in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, located some 35 kilometres from state capital Imphal, according to a statement released by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum.