India: Bengaluru women stand in solidarity with Manipur violence

The Catholic Women's Commission of the Archdiocese of Bangalore in southern India held a demonstration to denounce Manipur's gender violence on July 30. 

The Indian women's memorandum to the president read, "We are outraged by the video depicting the unspeakable crimes of the mob that stripped, physically and sexually assaulted, groped, slapped, paraded naked, and gang-raped three women from the Kuki tribe in Manipur."

More than a thousand women leaders who signed the petition attended the rally.

The Memorandum stated, "The police failed to save the victims from attackers, prevent the women from being raped, or stop the mob from killing the girl's father and brothers."

"These monstrous acts of violence, indignity, and brutality happened 77 days ago, and the perpetrators acted without consequence," the memo stated.

Bengaluru women allegedly described themselves as "horrified and anguished" by the "disturbing silence and apathy" of the official apparatus intended to uphold the law.

The petition was addressed to the Karnataka Governor, and the National Women's Commission chairperson stated, "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 outraged that tribal Christians in Manipur have been harmed with complete impunity by the chief minister and state officials," the statement said.

The women demanded that Christians be protected from the perpetrators of this violence.

"Break the Chain of Injustice" was the slogan of the rally convened at St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral under the auspices of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Commission for Women.

The Archdiocese of Manipur's Joint Secretary, Brinda Adige, urged the government to provide peace, relief, and restorative justice for women in Manipur.

An activist for Women's Islamic Voice stated that the ruling party had ulterior motives for dividing people and justifying atrocities.

Dalit social activist Ruth Manorama, a Right Livelihood Award winner from Bengaluru, called for breaking the culture of silence on this socioreligious assault.

"The Prime Minister did not have the time to visit Manipur during this grave situation, because it is organized and structurally planned against minorities," said Manorama.