A video showing two women being paraded naked by a mob in the violence-hit northeastern state of Manipur has caused public outcry in India. The police have responded by opening a case of gang rape and arresting one man, with plans to apprehend others involved in the incident. The incident also disrupted parliament’s session in Delhi as lawmakers demanded a debate on the issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his shame and promised that justice will be served. The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, has also expressed concern over the assault, with the Supreme Court ready to take action if necessary.

The assault on the women occurred on May 4 but gained national attention after the video went viral on social media. The federal government has instructed social media companies to remove the video from their platforms. Manipur has experienced ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May, resulting in 130 deaths and 60,000 displacements.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) issued a statement claiming that the two Kuki-Zo tribal community women were assaulted and gang-raped in a village in Kangpokpi district. The delay in making arrests has caused concern, and many individuals involved can be identified in the footage.

The incident has sparked a nationwide outcry, drawing attention to the failure of the state to support the survivors. The public pressure has finally led Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak out about the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur and promise action against the perpetrators. The authorities are now under pressure to act swiftly in order to restore public confidence and bring justice to the victims. Politicians from all parties have condemned the assault, with federal minister Smriti Irani calling it inhuman and opposition leaders criticizing the government’s handling of the violence.

The incident has highlighted the persistent problem of women’s bodies becoming a target during riots and conflicts, with rape and sexual assault used as tools of violence. The video depicting the women’s pain and the slow response from the authorities have further shaken public confidence. The hope now is that this incident will prompt necessary action and change, as it has once again demonstrated that such acts should not be happening in modern India.