India rejected comments by the United Nations (UN) experts on Manipur on Monday, calling them “unwarranted, presumptive and misleading."
“The Permanent Mission of India completely rejects the news release as it is not only unwarranted, presumptive and misleading but also betrays a complete lack of understanding on the situation in Manipur and the steps taken by Government of India to address it,” said the Permanent Mission of India at the United Nations.
India’s reaction came after UN human rights experts issued a press release saying that the situation in Manipur is “grave” and that it has involved alleged acts of “sexual violence, extrajudicial killings, home destruction, forced displacement, torture and ill-treatment."
The UN experts said they were “appalled" by the reports and images of gender-based violence targeting hundreds of women and girls of all ages, predominantly of the Kuki ethnic minority.
After this, India, in the note verbale issued to the Special Procedures Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stressed that the situation in Manipur is peaceful and stable and that the Indian government was committed to taking requisite steps to maintain peace and stability.
What Happened in Manipur?
India’s northeastern state of Manipur has witnessed widespread violence since May 3 after the Kuki tribe organized a tribal solidarity march against the Meitei tribe's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, which will allow them greater access to land purchases, amongst other things.
A massive uproar broke out after July 16 when a video of two women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted went viral on social media. The footage was said to be from May 4.
At least 190 people have been killed, and nearly 60,000 have fled their homes since.