From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jul 30: A massive peace rally was organized by women in Bengaluru at the St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral Grounds on Sunday, under the joint auspices of the Women’s Commission of Archdiocese of Bangalore and the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India. The rally aimed to voice their protest against the atrocities committed against women in Manipur and demanded that the guilty be punished, and peace be restored in Manipur, which has been rocked by ethnic violence for almost three months.
A delegation of the organizers, led by Sheema Mohsin of Islamic Voice, Ruth Manorama, a Dalit activist, Fr. Susai Raj, Ecclesiastical Advisor to the Women’s Commission of Archdiocese of Bangalore, and its President Priya Francis, along with Paul Newman, Principal of St. Joseph’s Evening College, Kamilah Uroj, a student, Sushma Veer, a Social Activist, Colin Calamiano, Founder Director of Spread Your Wings, and others, later submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru addressed to the President of India, Prime Minister, and the State Governor, with a request to forward it.
The Peace Rally expressed outrage at the despicable video showing unspeakable crimes committed by a mob against three women from the Kuki tribe in Manipur. The video shows the women being stripped, physically and sexually assaulted, groped, slapped, and paraded naked. The mob also gang-raped one of the victims while policemen remained mere onlookers seated in a car, watching the violence unfold. When the victim's brother (19 years old) and father tried to protect her from the mob, they were ruthlessly killed. The police did not intervene to prevent the assaults, rapes, and killings.
The crime took place 77 days ago, and the culprits are still at large. The rally participants strongly condemned these monstrous acts of violence, indignity, and brutality, expressing their horror and anguish at the disturbing silence and apathy of the state machinery meant to protect citizens and enforce laws.
"As women and men of India, our collective consciousness is shaken by these acts of brutality and outraged at the impunity enjoyed by the mob and its instigators. The women were forcibly stripped naked, paraded, and gang-raped, and the ruthless murder of the victim's brother and father who tried to stop this heinous crime is deplorable and intolerable," they said.
The memorandum also highlighted the distressing fact that the video of the incident was recorded by members of the mob and has been circulated widely. There have been reports of two other college students being raped and killed by the same mob, which carried sophisticated weapons like machine guns and machetes. The organizers expressed shock at the Manipur Chief Minister's nonchalant claim of having no information about the incident, pointing out that it reflects the complete breakdown of law and order in the state.
"We mourn the loss of humanity and the shattering of constitutional promises of safety and dignity for all women. We are also enraged by the abuse of power by state officials to wreak havoc on tribal Christians in Manipur, with complete impunity. We demand that both the perpetrators of this violence and the apathetic system be duly punished. Let your actions be strong enough to send the message of protecting Christians, restoring dignity, and upholding the diversity and tolerance guaranteed by the Indian constitution," the memorandum concluded.