By Thomas Scaria
Bengaluru, July 31, 2023: Women in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru held a rally to condemn the ongoing violence against women in Manipur, a northeastern Indian state.
The Catholic Women’s Commission of the Archdiocese of Bangalore organized the July 30 rally with like-minded women organizations in the city.
“We are outraged by the video of the unspeakable crimes of the mob that stripped, physically and sexually assaulted, groped, slapped and paraded naked three women, and gang-raped from the Kuki tribe in Manipur,” says a memorandum addressed to the president of India. It was signed by more than 1,000 women leaders who attended the rally.
The women observed that the police did not protect the victims from the attackers. They neither saved the women from being raped nor prevented the killings of one of the girl’s brother and father by the mob.
“The crime happened 77 days ago and the culprits roamed around free. We condemn these monstrous acts of violence, indignity, and brutality,” said the memorandum.
The Bengaluru women said that they were “horrified and anguished” by the “disturbing silence and apathy” of the state machinery meant to protect citizens and enforce laws.
The written appeal, also addressed to the governor of Karnataka and the chairperson of the National Women’s Commission noted that two other college students were also raped and killed by the mob, carrying sophisticated machine guns, machetes, and all kinds of weapons.
“We are also enraged that the chief minister and state officials have abused their powers to wreak havoc on the tribal Christians in Manipur, with complete impunity,” the memorandum laments.
The women demanded that the perpetrators of this violence be duly punished and Christians in the state protected.
“Break the Chain of Injustice” was the slogan at the rally held under the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Commission for Women. It was convened at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral.
Brinda Adige, Joint secretary of the Archdiocesan Women’s Commission, demanded peace, relief, and restorative justice for women of Manipur, as an urgent task by the government.
Sheema Mohsin, a Women’s Islamic Voice Activist, stated that the ruling party had ulterior motives of dividing people and using excuses to carry on atrocities.
Ruth Manorama, a Dalit social activist from Bengaluru and a Right Livelihood Award winner, stressed the need to break the culture of silence on this socio-religious attack on minorities.
“This is an organized and structural planning against the minorities,” said Manorama who wondered why the Prime Minister did not have the time to visit Manipur during this grave situation.
A similar rally was held in Mangaluru recently by the Catholic Sabha, a laity association, and other like-minded organizations.