Sexual Violence Filmed Amidst Ethnic Conflict in Indian State of Manipur

30-07-2023

Jessica Schwarz

Women’s Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

On 19 July 2023, a horrific video emerged, depicting sexual violence against women in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur where ethnic conflict broke out in May. The video footage shows two naked women, of the Kuki people, being dragged by a mob of Meitei men who grope, slap and sexually assault the women. It is alleged that the women were then dragged to a field and gang raped (Ellis-Petersen and Hassan, 2023). The atrocious incident took place in early May and was registered with the police thereafter but arrests were not made until a day after the video went viral on social media, sparking huge outrage both nationally and internationally. The Central Bureau of Investigation has since been asked to take over the investigation into the sexual violence incident. Seven individuals, including a minor, have been arrested with a total of fourteen suspects identified (Singh, 2023). It took over seventy days since the incident for arrests to be made despite occurring two months ago.

The ethnic conflict in Manipur between the majority Meitei and the minority Kuki tribal communities erupted on 3 May 2023 with Kuki student protests against the Meitei tribe’s petition for tribal status which would strengthen their already strong influence in government and society and allow them to buy land and settle in predominantly Kuki areas (Krishnan and Wingard, 2023). The ethnic violence between the two communities has since lead to the deaths of at least 130, wounding many more and displacing tens of thousands as the Indian army, paramilitary forces and police attempt to quell the violence.

The sexual violence incident highlights the unfortunate and atrocious use of violence and terror against women in conflict, the weaponization of rape, as well as the vulnerability of women during conflict. Unfortunately, and shamefully, India has a large record of sexual violence cases with weak laws on the matter. This poor attitude towards addressing violence against women is also evident with police action only taking place after the video went viral and garnered significant attention. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters have called for the resignation of Biren Singh, Manipur’s chief minister and a member of Modi’s Hindu nationalist party, as well as a member of the Meitei tribe (Krishnan and Wingard, 2023). Fortunately, the State Government has formulated rehabilitative measures for the victims, including professional, counselling and secured shelter (Singh, 2023). Nevertheless, the use of rape as a weapon against minority communities has been and remains an issue in India. Moreover, the use of rape as instruments of violence during conflicts can often lead to retaliation and revenge attacks against more women of opposing groups. Impunity for sexual violence remains too common. According to Suroor Mander, a layer who worked on sexual violence against women during the 2002 Gujarat and 2020 Delhi riots, ‘Bodies of women are where the valour and the pride of the community lies. And one group crushes it by raping the women of the other community‘ (Matharu, 2023). Additionally, politicians only get involved when there is a political motive or pressure to do so. It also took the video for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence on the ethnic conflict by condemning the sexual violence but not referring to the contextual ethnic violence. Despite numerous Geneva Conventions prohibiting the use of sexual violence during conflict and sexual violence being a crime undermost laws, its prevalence indicates the urgent need for more progress in this area to safeguard the lives and dignities of innocents during conflict.

Sources and further readings:

Ellis-Petersen, H. and Hassan, A. (2023, 20 July) Modi speaks out after video of sexual assault on women in Manipur emerges, The Guardian, Retrieved on 30 July 2023 from  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/20/modi-speaks-out-after-video-of-sexual-assault-on-women-in-manipur-emerges

Krishnan, M. and Wingard, J. (2023, 23 July) India: Further reports of sexual violence emerge in Manipur, Deutsche Welle, Retrieved on 30 July 2023 from https://www.dw.com/en/india-further-reports-of-sexual-violence-emerge-in-manipur/a-66320674

Matharu, S. (2023, 12 July) No one wants to talk about rapes in Manipur. There’s a silence at the heart of the violence, The Print, Retrieved on 30 July 2023 from https://theprint.in/ground-reports/no-one-wants-to-talk-about-rapes-in-manipur-theres-a-silence-at-the-heart-of-the-violence/1665212/

Singh, V. (2023, 27 July) CBI to probe May 4 Manipur sexual assault, The Hindu, Retrieved on 30 July 2023 from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cbi-to-take-over-manipur-sexual-assault-case-say-officials/article67127960.ece