Manipur Sexual Assault Video | After SCAORA, Supreme Court Bar Association Condemns Inaction Of State Police For Two Months

This graphic video went viral on the internet recently, shocking the nation and bringing renewed attention to the allegations of human rights violations amidst the ongoing clashes between ethnic groups in the state. In its resolution, the SCBA has said that incidents such as this have far-reaching consequences on the victims’ wellbeing and “tarnishes the humanitarian ethics to its core”:

“Such incidents in Manipur which have been taking place since have not only brought suffering among the people of Manipur but also have led to loss of several lives. The Executive Committee expresses its deep concern over the incidents which have tarnished the humanitarian ethics to its core. We categorically condemn the gender-based violence and humiliation as it has far-reaching consequences on the victims’ physical and psychological well-being.”

The lawyers’ body has also condemned the inaction of the state police in apprehending the culprits and holding them accountable. “[We] condemns the inaction of the state police in bringing the culprits to book for a long period of two months and their inability to generally tackle the debilitating violence in the State of Manipur,” the resolution states. The SCBA has also urged the state and central governments to “immediately take action to punish the perpetrators and prevent other acts of violence in the state which are still continuing”.

The resolution concludes with a message for citizens to remain calm:

“In these challenging times, we call upon all citizens to remain calm and respect one another's rights and freedoms to maintain peace in the state so that no such gruesome incident could be further reported.”

The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) has also condemned the ongoing ethnic clashes in the north-eastern state of Manipur, and expressed its concern over the sexual assault depicted in the viral video. Besides this, the SCAORA has expressed its ‘strong objection’ to any illegal first information reports (FIR) being registered and arrests made by the police against advocates and activists endeavouring to help the riots-struck victims and families.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court took taken suo motu cognisance of the viral video that emerged from the State of Manipur, asking the Centre and the Manipur government to inform it of the measures adopted by them to hold the perpetrators accountable as well as prevent similar incidents in the future. Both governments were also directed to “take immediate steps – remedial, rehabilitative and preventive and to apprise the Court of the action which has been taken before the next date of listing on affidavit”. In its order, a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud also observed:

“The Court is deeply disturbed by the visuals which have appeared in the media since yesterday depicting the perpetration of sexual assault and violence on women in Manipur. What is portrayed in the media would indicate gross constitutional violations and infractions of human rights. Using women as instruments for perpetrating violence is simply unacceptable in a constitutional democracy.”