‘Sad incident, but some kind of politics involved’: Himanta Biswa on Manipur horror

As the Manipur on-camera horror went viral, it sparked nationwide condemnation and also a political conversation between the opposition and the ruling government. While the opposition demanded Chief Minister N. Biren Singh‘s resignation, now ruling BJP smelled some political agenda behind the leak of the horrific video, in which two women were paraded naked by a group of men amid Manipur violence. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa has questioned the timing of the release of the viral video, just a day before the commencement of Parliament’s monsoon session and claimed that politics was behind the leak.

Addressing a press conference, the chief minister claimed that incidents of rape are much higher in some opposition-led states like West Bengal, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh than in BJP-ruled Manipur or other northeastern states.

Some kind of political thing: CM Biswa over Manipur horror

“The case (regarding the incident) was registered long back, video was available. It was leaked a day before the commencement of the Parliament session. So, some kind of political things are involved,” he said.

However, Biswa also said that in the same breath, it was a gruesome incident and it cannot be condoned despite the timing of the release of the video.

“Irrespective of the date of release of the video, the incident should be condemned, culprits should be punished — on that I have no issue. But you should not defame the entire Manipur or Northeast,” he added.

Citing the names of northeastern states with the least numbers of rape cases, he claimed that rape incidents happen less in the Northeast, especially in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

‘Sad incident’

“This is a sad incident, but the impression is being given that it happens every day in Manipur. If you compare rape incidents of West Bengal, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh against Manipur, it’s less in Manipur,” the chief minister added.

This depressing and inhumane video from May 4, just a day after the clashes erupted in Manipur, surfaced on Wednesday, showing two women paraded naked and molested by a mob in strife-torn Manipur.

FIR lodged on June 21, 4 arrested

On Thursday, the alleged main accused was arrested. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation across the country. The FIR on the incident was registered on June 21. Almost four accused held so far linked to this case.

The monsoon session of Parliament began on Thursday.

Over 150 people have lost their lives and several injured since ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state on May 3, when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts.