Amidst violence in Manipur UN experts raise alarm over inaction

Imphal: United Nations experts have expressed serious concern over the apparent slow and inadequate response of the Indian government, including law enforcement agencies, to the growing physical and sexual violence in the northeastern state of Manipur, as well as hate speech.
Experts, who closely monitor human rights abuses around the world, have been shocked by reports and disturbing images of gender-based violence, with a particular focus on the Kuki ethnic minority, mainly involving people of all ages. Women and girls are targeted.
These alleged acts of brutality include gang-rape, public humiliation of women by stripping them naked on the streets, beatings to death, and even the heinous practice of burning women or their remains alive.
“Particularly troubling is that this wave of violence appears to have been fueled by a barrage of hateful and inflammatory speech and has spread both online and offline before, from the Kuki ethnic minority.
“Justifying these horrific acts against, especially targeting women, on the basis of their ethnic and religious beliefs,” the experts declared.
He expressed his deep concern about the misuse of counter-terrorism measures to legitimize these violent and repressive measures against ethnic and religious minority groups.
Experts stress that the recent events in Manipur serve as a tragic milestone in the ongoing deterioration of conditions for religious and ethnic minorities in India.
The experts reiterated that “we are appalled by the slow and inadequate response by the Government of India, including its law enforcement agencies, in dealing with the escalating physical and sexual violence and the increase in hate speech within Manipur. Very worried.”