Strip-parade inhuman; PM must intervene to bring peace in Manipur: Irom Sharmila

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Irom Sharmila Sunday described the incident of strip-and-parade of two tribal women as «inhuman» and «very disturbing» and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately intervene to address the situation in her home state. The 51-year-old award-winning activist said she could not hold her tears after watching the video clip that showed two women being paraded naked and molested by a group of men in Kangpokpi district of the northeastern state on May 4. The video which surfaced on July 19 sparked condemnation countrywide.

Since then, the police have arrested six people. «It's inhuman and quite a disturbing incident. I could not hold my tears seeing the video I have received.

I am deeply pained and shocked,» Sharmila told PTI in an exclusive interview from Bangalore. Sharmila who hailed from Manipur had been on hunger strike for 16 years demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). She was force-fed by food tubes during that period.

«It's clear that the state government in Manipur has failed totally. And when a state cannot control the situation, why is the Prime Minister silent? He should protect the people of Manipur. If he is concerned about the suffering of the people of Manipur, he must intervene… Like the people of Gujarat, the Maniuris also require his leadership,» she said.

The 'Iron Lady' of Manipur demanded that Chief Minister N Biren Singh should admit his failure and apologise to the people. «The CM must talk to all 60 MLAs putting aside the differences. He must talk to them one-to-one and consider their opinions and decide how to stop the feeling of hatred between the two communities (Meitei and Kuki).