India rejects UN experts statement on Manipur violence: ‘Presumptive and misleading’
violence in Manipur and also made some harsh remarks about the deteriorating situation for religious and ethnic minorities in India. “We have serious concerns about the apparent slow and inadequate response by the Government of India, including law enforcement, to stem physical and sexual violence and hate speech in Manipur," the experts said.
The experts raised concerns about the criminalization and harassment of human rights defenders and urged the Government of India to step up the relief efforts in the affected areas. “We are appalled by the reports and images of gender-based violence targeting hundreds of women and girls of all ages, and predominantly of the Kuki ethnic minority.
The alleged violence includes gang rape, parading women naked in the street, severe beatings causing death, and burning them alive or dead," the experts added. “It is particularly concerning that the violence seems to have been preceded and incited by hateful and inflammatory speech that spread online and offline to justify the atrocities committed against the Kuki ethnic minority, particularly women, on account of their ethnicity and religious belief.
We are further alarmed by the reported misuse of counterterrorism measures to legitimize acts of violence and repression against ethnic and religious minorities," they said. “By mid-August 2023, an estimated 160 persons had reportedly been killed, mostly from the Kuki ethnic community, and over 300 injured.
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