Meira Paibis from Nongpok Sekmai in Thoubal district have come forward claiming to have rescued two women seen in a viral video, along with three more families from the Kuki Community, amid a tense situation involving a mob.
The Meira Paibis asserted that the rescue mission was undertaken to protect the lives of these individuals, who were allegedly under threat due to a prior report of rape and murder of a Meitei lady in Churachandpur on May 3.
According to a Meira Paibi, the actions captured in the viral video were a reaction from the mob after receiving the news of the heinous incident that occurred earlier.
They clarified that the women from Nongpok Sekmai intervened to safeguard the victims from harm, providing them with clothes and securing their lives before handing them over to the security forces for further protection.
The rescued victims were identified as two women, along with three families, including women and children.
The women emphasised that their primary focus was on protecting the innocent individuals caught in the crossfire of the situation and ensuring their safety.
While condemning the crime against women and supporting the government’s actions to punish the culprits, the Meira Paibi urged a broader perspective on such matters.
“We are a kind society. We tried our best to save the victim’s family and one horrific incident should not taint the entire society and paint us as inhumane. We shall not accept that we are looked down upon by the entire world and look at us through the same lens,” said a Meira Paibi leader.
They called on Prime Minister Modi to not only address the viral video but also extend his concern to other rape cases that might not gain widespread attention due to a lack of evidence or media coverage.
The women stressed the need for justice and protection for all victims of sexual violence, urging authorities to take appropriate actions against the perpetrators responsible for these heinous crimes.
They further highlighted the prevalence of unreported cases of rape and other atrocities against women, emphasising the significance of addressing all such incidents regardless of their popularity on social media.
