The alleged assault on two girls from the Rongmei community has sparked condemnations from various bodies.
The Global Manipur Federation on Monday condemned the alleged unruly apprehension, beating, moral policing and justice meted out by a mob on the two Rongmei women at Ningthoukhong, Bishnupur District on Friday.
GMF, in a release, mentioned the unfortunate incident where the two girls were allegedly subjected to mistreatment by a mob. It regretted that such an incident is not an isolated occurrence but adds to a distressing pattern of similar events in the past.
It expressed concern that such heinous acts go beyond violating individuals’ physical integrity and undermine the fabric of our society, eroding trust among communities, fostering fear and sending a chilling message to every woman.
This abhorrent incident serves as a stark reminder that even in a supposedly civilised society, acts of cruelty and harassment can occur without warning, it lamented, adding that the perpetrators should be held accountable and justice ensured to the two victims. It further urged the public to condemn such incidents and initiate discourse on the increasing occurrences of ‘mob violence’.
Meanwhile, the Rongmei Naga Youth Organisation, Manipur (RNYOM) has strongly condemned Sunday’s incident that took place at Khumbong bazaar, Imphal West District, where a Rongmei Naga taxi driver named Chingkhiukhuanang Gangmei was allegedly physically assaulted by unknown miscreants claiming to be members of a proscribed outfit.
RNYOM, in a release, alleged that the two warring communities often drag the Rongmei Nagas into conflicts by harassing the public in many ways. The Rongmei Nagas in Manipur stand neutral regarding the ongoing issue in the state and always seek peace and normalcy, it maintained.
It appealed to the state government to book the culprits involved and take necessary legal actions against them, failing which the organisation warned that it will take up stern agitations. It further said that the government must bear all responsibilities.
Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) also condemned the incident, decrying the assaults frequently perpetrated upon innocent citizens of various tribes and communities who are neither related nor part of the ongoing conflict.
The two Zeliangrong girls namely one Anna Dangmei and one Rita Dangmei, who are reportedly wardens of Loyala School, Bishnupur were allegedly assaulted by some youths and womenfolk at Bishnupur on Sunday even after they clearly established their identities, it stated.
As per details revealed by the driver of a passenger taxi bound for Tamenglong Headquarters namely one Chingkhiukhuanang Gangmei and the girls, the ordeal allegedly meted out towards them deserves severe punishment under the law especially for intercepting and taking the girls to an unknown place and keeping them in confinement for hours in a secluded location, it asserted. It added that the same is an attempt to outrage their modesty with an intention to murder.
It further highlighted similar incidents of alleged physical assaults against individuals of the community. It reiterated the Zeliangrong community’s neutral stance and expressed outcry over the attempt by some individuals to drag the neutral communities into the ongoing conflict.
The Zeliangrong Civil Organisations (ZCOs) fervently urged the state and Central governments to control the prevailing situation in Manipur at the earliest and initiate remedial measures to prevent recurrence of such unwanted incidents in future, the release added.
