GENEVA: A group of nearly 20 independent United Nations human rights experts, including the Special Rapporteurs on violence against women and girls and on torture, issued a condemnation on Monday, expressing serious concerns about the “slow and inadequate response” by Narendra Modi-led Indian government, including law enforcement agencies, in addressing reported rights violations, including sexual violence and hate speech, during deadly ethnic clashes in the remote northeastern state of Manipur.
The experts released a statement in response to the ongoing abuses documented since the clashes erupted in Manipur in May. According to reports, by mid-August, approximately 160 people had lost their lives, with 300 others sustaining injuries during the violence. Additionally, tens of thousands of individuals were displaced, thousands of homes were destroyed, and hundreds of churches were burnt down, along with extensive damage to farmland.
Of particular alarm to the experts were reports and images of gender-based violence primarily targeting women and girls, particularly those from the Kuki ethnic minority.
“The violence includes gang rape, the public parading of women in a naked state, severe beatings resulting in fatalities, and the burning of women, whether alive or deceased,” they stated.
UN Concern Over Premediated Violence in Manipur
Moreover, the experts voiced profound concern that the violence appeared to have been premeditated and exacerbated by hateful and inflammatory speech. Hate speech, both online and offline, was employed as a means “to rationalize the atrocities inflicted upon the Kuki ethnic minority, particularly women, based on their ethnicity and religious beliefs.”
The state of Manipur has been deeply divided along ethnic lines, with rival militias implementing blockades to prevent members of opposing communities from entering. In response to the crisis, tens of thousands of additional troops were deployed from other regions to patrol towns and highways. Currently, a curfew and internet shutdown remain in effect throughout Manipur.
In light of these grave issues, the UN experts called upon the Indian government to intensify relief efforts for those affected and to take decisive and prompt measures to investigate instances of violence. They underscored the necessity of holding perpetrators accountable, including public officials who may have played a role in encouraging racial and religious animosity and acts of violence.
