WASHINGTON: The video of a terrible assault on two women in the Indian state of Manipur has “shocked and horrified” the US, which has demanded a peaceful end to the violence there.
During his routine press briefing on Tuesday, Vedant Patel, the deputy spokesperson for the State Department, said, “We were horrified and shocked by the footage of this terrible attack on two ladies in Manipur.
On July 19, the video that showed two ladies being paraded in public naked and harassed by a group of men in the Kangpokpi district on May 4 leaked. This video earned widespread condemnation.
The spokesperson said, “We support the Indian government’s efforts to seek justice for them and convey our profound sympathies to the survivors of this act of gender-based violence.”
A private Pakistani television channel’s correspondent had a question on the Manipur tragedy, and Patel was responding to it.
Patel added, “The government should safeguard the lives and property of all parties and attend to the humanitarian needs. We have previously made it clear that we encourage a peaceful and inclusive resolution to the violence in Manipur.”
When asked about press freedom in Pakistan, the spokeswoman said that the US is discussing this problem with all relevant parties worldwide, including Pakistani officials. “A free press and informed citizens are essential for a country and the future of its democracy. That’s something we’ve made very clear,” Patel added. —APP
