Video bombshell

A video reportedly taken on May 4 at B. Phainom village in Kangpokpi district, about 40km (25 miles) from the state capital, Imphal, which showed two Kuki women being paraded naked by a mob reportedly from the Meitei community then subsequently gang-raped went viral on social media on July 19. This particular video shook and shamed India and was also widely broadcast across global media. What the video that went viral did, was drive home the message for India and the world that such horrors are happening in Manipur since May 3 and that till today, the law of the land is not enforced without fear or favour because the chief minister under whose government the flame of ethnic hatred and communalism was ignited, has been left untouched and insulated by the Centre. The very fact that the Centre has left Biren Singh untouched even when the situation has worsened despite invoking Article 355, clearly sends a message to the state administration and police, that it’ll be business as usual. That is probably the reason why the police in Manipur has not enforced the rule of law by the book and instead chosen to be mute when it mattered and engage in fire fighting when things go out of control. The shame and shock felt by every sane and civilised citizen after the video went viral has rightly caused massive outrage. Even Biren Singh has expressed shock and pain at the incident. Expressing deep pain about the May 4 incident while talking to media, the chief minister informed that his government has taken suo moto notice of the incident after the video went viral on July 19. Unfortunately, it is farther from the truth because the incident had been reported to the Manipur Police in a complaint letter filed on May 18. Unfortunately, Manipur Police which is under the chief minister, since he also holds the home portfolio, took no action. The Police only swung into action on July 19 and July 20 after which it nabbed only four out of more than 25 of men involved in the naked parade and gang rape of two women. After the naked parade-cum-gang rape video went viral, it also exposed a classic tragi-comedy being enacted The video has probably caught the BJP government at the Centre on the wrong foot but even despite all the shame and pain, it has yet to walk the talk. On May 29 union home minister Amit Shah visited Manipur on a three-day visit and promised to bring justice and ensure peace. However, what was needed was to restore trust by first removing Biren Singh and place the state under Governor’s rule. Instead of that, the Centre removed the chief secretary and the DGP by making them as scapegoats. It is to be noted that more than six lakh assorted ammunition and over 3000 sophisticated weapons belonging to Manipur Police were allowed to be taken away/looted from the armoury. According to armed forces, these are in the hands of hardcore insurgents now actively operating as the militia among the mobs in Manipur. The arms loot poses a very serious security threat and for which someone will have to answer but unfortunately the buck won’t stop anywhere.