Distressed mother of woman in Manipur video fears return to violence-hit village; accuses govt for inaction
In an interview with a national news channel, mother of one of the woman in the Manipur video recounts horrifying incident, shares fears of returning to her violence-hit village and accuses the state government for failing to protect its citizens.
FollowThe mother of one of the women who suffered the horrific ordeal of being paraded naked by a mob of men during ethnic violence in Manipur, expressed despair at the thought of ever returning to their village. In an interview with NDTV, the traumatized mother accused the Manipur government of not taking sufficient action to halt the violence and protect its citizens.
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The woman's husband and son fell victim to the mob's violence, and her daughter was subjected to stripping, parading, and groping on camera on May 4, following clashes between the valley-majority Meiteis and the hill-majority Kuki tribe. With the emergence of a video capturing the incident on social media, four people have been arrested recently.
Overwhelmed by grief and loss, the woman described the heart-wrenching impact on her family. She lost her youngest son, whom she had great hopes for, envisioning a bright future once he completed Class 12. The loss of her husband added to their woes, leaving her elder son without a job. The future of their family seems bleak, leaving her feeling hopeless and helpless.
"I have lost my youngest son, who was my entire hope. I was expecting that once he completes Class 12 and with much difficulty, I sent him to school to get a proper education. Now his father is also no more. My elder son does not have a job. So, when I think about the future of our family, I feel there is no hope. Apart from saying that I feel hopeless and helpless, there is nothing on my mind," the woman told NDTV.
The violent clashes have deeply shattered the trust between communities, leaving the woman with no desire to return to her village. Their homes were burnt down, and their fields lay in ruins, making the prospect of returning unbearable. The devastation wrought by the violence has irreparably altered their lives, with no prospects for returning to normalcy.
"There is no possibility of us going back to our village. That thought has not even crossed my mind... No, we cannot go back. I don't want to go back. Our houses have been burned, our fields destroyed. What will I go back to? My village is burnt down. I don't know what the future for me and my family is, but I cannot go back," she added.
Expressing anger and agitation, she criticized the Manipur government for its failure to control the violence that erupted on May 3. She lamented the brutal killing of her family members and the degrading treatment her daughter endured. The lack of prompt action by the authorities has left the community feeling abandoned and unsure of their future.
"I am very angry and agitated. They have brutally killed her father and her brother and even with her, they have done this humiliating act... I am so hurt. The government of Manipur is not doing anything. Mothers and fathers of India, we are at a loss, we are unable to think of what to do from now on as a community. By the grace of God, physically I am doing okay, but I think about it day and night. I have consulted a doctor as I have been feeling very weak lately," the woman added.
The victims alleged that the women were abandoned to the mercy of the mob by the police. Shockingly, the first information report (FIR) was filed 15 days after the incident, and arrests were made only after the video went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage across the nation. The delayed response further added to the distress and anger of the affected families.
