Manipur sexual assault inhuman; PM Modi must intervene to bring peace: Irom Sharmila
The Hindu
Irom Sharmila said she could not hold her tears after watching the video clip that showed two women being paraded naked and molested by a group of men in Kangpokpi district in Manipur on May 4.
Civil rights activist Irom Sharmila Sunday described the incident of strip-and-parade of two tribal women as "inhuman" and "very disturbing" and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately intervene to address the situation in her home State.
She also demanded that Chief Minister N. Biren Singh admit his failure and apologise to the people of Manipur.
The 51-year-old award-winning activist said she could not hold her tears after watching the video clip that showed two women being paraded naked and molested by a group of men in Kangpokpi district of the northeastern State on May 4.
The video which surfaced on July 19 sparked condemnation countrywide. Since then, the police have arrested six people.
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"It's inhuman and quite a disturbing incident. I could not hold my tears seeing the video I have received. I am deeply pained and shocked," Sharmila told PTI in an exclusive interview from Bangalore.
Sharmila who hailed from Manipur had been on hunger strike for 16 years demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). She was force-fed by food tubes during that period.
While residents are worried over deaths due to diarrhoea in Vijayawada, officials still grapple to find the root cause. Contaminated drinking water supplied by VMC officials is the reason, insist people in the affected areas, but officials insist that efforts are on to identify the disease and that those with symptoms other than diarrhoea too are visiting the health camps.