Manipur news: As Centre prepares to face queries, looking at ‘fake news’ that triggered sexual assault incidents

livemint.com:

Narendra Modi led BJP-NDA alliance prepares to face opposition queries on violence stricken Manipur following a no confidence motion that was tabled by Congress MP from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi, fake news, rumours and fault lines seem to emerge into what triggered the sexual assault of Kuki Zo women on 4 May. Manipur, now the centre of national attention, has historically been known to have held the women in the various indigenous communities on a pedestal.

North eastern states in India are known to prcatice amore matriarchal social functioning, unlike the rest of India. Then what triggered the sexual harassment of women as the Hindu majority Meitei community and Christian minority Kuki Zo came to war like situation for fight of constitutional rights? Let's understand Security observers and analysts, along with residents of Manipur, especially the famous Meira Peibis, or torch-bearers - also known as the mothers of Manipur.

have cited the incidents to rumours. Rumours that Meitei women were sexually harassed and killed led to a mob fury further triggering a series of horrific sexual harassment cases throughout the state- this time the victims and targets were Kuki Zo women.

Why did the mob act the way it did, in a society that regards its women highly? Upon being asked by BBC, Sinam Surnalata Leima, who leads the Meira Peibis in a group of villages where the two Kuki women in the video were attacked, said, “It was grief and revenge for the Meitei women who had been attacked by Kuki men". Notably, Leima personally does not know of any such attacks.

The famously matriarchal society of Manipur did not resort to community division when it came to punishing the perpetrators. According to the Leima, as reported by BBC, “villagers