In a gruesome incident that has gripped India’s collective consciousness, a viral video from Manipur, displaying a horrific “rape parade”, has set off waves of public anger. The unsettling footage portrays a group of men, some who appear to be teenagers, mercilessly assaulting two naked women, one of whom was reportedly gang-raped.
The victims, hailing from the ethnic Kuki-Zo tribe, are seen being led to a barren field by their tormentors, as seen in the 26-second clip. The victims’ ages have been identified as 21 and 42, respectively, according to the survivors’ police report.
India Rape Parade: Ethnic Strife Taints the Backdrop of Assault
This appalling episode took place on May 4, in the aftermath of lethal ethnic clashes between the primarily Hindu Meitei and the mostly Christian Kuki-Zo tribes. The Meitei constitute more than half of Manipur’s population of 3.5 million, primarily residing in the state capital, Imphal, and its thriving valley, while the Kuki-Zo and Naga tribes inhabit the surrounding hilly areas.
