The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while reacting to the US State Department’s statement on the Manipur viral video, said that “authorities are taking action to bring perpetrators to justice and restore peace in Manipur.”
Statement from the MEA
MEA Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, while addressing a media briefing on July 27, 2023, has said that there the authorities, in the case of the viral video incident and others, are taking action.
“As you are aware, this is a matter on which our authorities, particularly the viral video and that incident, as you mentioned, but other incidents also on which our authorities are taking action to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace and normalcy in Manipur,” he said while replying on the US State Department’s statement.
“We have seen those comments by the US State Department on July 25, which also acknowledge the same,” he added.
Reaction from the US
In connection with a viral video which showed two women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted in Manipur, Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, said, “We were shocked and horrified by the video of this extreme attack on two women in Manipur. We convey our profound sympathies to the survivors of this act of gender-based violence and support the Indian Government’s efforts to seek justice for them.”
“We encourage a peaceful and inclusive resolution to Manipur violence and encourage authorities to respond to the humanitarian needs and protect the lives and property of all groups. “Police said that a total of six arrests have been made so far in the incident, which occurred on May 4, 2023.
Further in the briefing, when asked about the reports of an Indian man reaching Pakistan after being swept away in the Sutlej River, Bagchi said, “We have seen the reports and are gathering more details about it.”
Comments from other leaders
Prominent politicians from India have sharply reacted to the Manipur Incident. These include the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, The Dravida Munnetra Kashagam (DMK) women wing along with the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma,
Reaction from the citizens
A woman from Goa has shaved her head in response to the shameful incident. Elsewhere, in India, many women activists have protested, condemned and demanded strict action to be taken against Biren Singh’s government (state government of Manipur) Women activists and organisations have also torched the house of the accused and those directly involved in the incident.
