This is a trigger warning for anyone who may feel triggered by sexual assault. The story has mentions of rape and death threats.
I wonder if all mainstream media anchors are away on vacation today, especially those that love shouting on prime time news.
Did the printing machines of newspapers run out of ink last night? Because I don’t see any headlines.
Is it because this didn’t happen in the capital city of the country?
Is it because the opposition wasn’t in power in the State?
Is it because we simply don’t care about States and areas beyond North India?
Is it because we have simply stopped being human?
Or that the horrific video of young men parading two women completely naked in Manipur and then being taken to the fields to be gangr*ped isn’t enough for headlines?
Nari Shakti is just a theme for Republic Day parades and a slogan for International Women’s Day. If, as a country, we really did care about women, this would not have happened. As women are being reduced to tools for communal strife, we are silent.
History tells us that every time there is violence of any sort, women are the worst affected. It’s a reminder to the women that this world is not for them. A reminder that election campaigning is more important than the rights and dignity of women.
Fighting shame, humiliation and stigma of sexual crimes, Manipur-based lawyers and human rights activists said these crimes may be buried forever. The print also highlights that there have been atleast six cases of r*pe of Kuki women.
“If you don’t take off your clothes, we will kill you”
It’s been over two months and survivors have now blended amongst the displaced people at various relief camps. Their sexual trauma, dignity, respect all dissolved in the countless stories of mob attacks.
Violence against women especially during riots and clashes often goes unchecked and discounted.
If these were really our daughters, sisters, mothers would we have been this silent?