NEW DELHI :The United States says it is deeply concerned by reports of a viral video showing two women paraded naked in India’s northeastern state of Manipur, a sexual assault case that enraged the country.
The assault, in which a mob allegedly gang-raped and paraded naked the tribal women, took place more than two months ago after ethnic clashes between two communities broke out in the remote state.
But the assault captured national and global attention after the video went viral on social media last week, forcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his public silence over Manipur violence.
Police made some arrests after Modi, in a 30-second address outside parliament on Thursday, condemned the assault as “shameful” and promised tough action.
Manipur is governed by Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
A US State Department spokesperson called the Manipur incident “brutal” and “terrible” and said the US conveyed its sympathies to the victims.
The US encouraged a peaceful and inclusive resolution to the Manipur violence and urged authorities to respond to humanitarian needs while protecting all groups, homes and places of worship, the State Department spokesperson said.
The sexual assault was reported by the victims – aged 21 and 42 – in May during intense ethnic clashes between the tribal Kuki-Zo, who are mainly Christian, and the mainly Hindu Meiteis over potential changes to economic benefits given to the Kuki-Zo and other tribal groups in Manipur.
The special status under the Scheduled Tribe category would let the majority Meiteis buy land in the hills populated by the Kuki-Zo and other tribal groups, as well as a guaranteed share of government jobs.Al Jazeera
