MSAD submits memorandum to NCW seeking action against vulgar FB group
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 16 2021: Seeking plea to take up urgent investigation and actions in regards to the vulgar and contemptible Facebook group, "Kanglei emagi *** nupising", the Manipur Students' Association of Delhi (MSAD) has submitted a memorandum to the Chairperson of National Commission for Women (NCW) .

MSAD in its memorandum drew the attention of the Chairperson of NCW regarding the current issue of a Facebook group which is allegedly circulating non-consented photos and passing on hateful and sexually derogatory comments towards various women hailing from Manipur.

MSAD learnt the existence of the group through the investigative work of a non-profit organisation 'Mingsel Foundation', who first exposed this unsavoury group to the public, it said.

The group by the name is in no way a civil association and it has become a hub of vulgarity and hatefulness, stated MSAD.

The modus operandi of the group is that the members would upload photos of individuals and even group family photos of women and young girls, without their consent, along with a derogatory caption that aims to invoke sexual fetishization and sexual violence.

In the comment section, the other members would take part in this obscenity without a modicum of respect or civil ethics.

Their target victim knows no bounds, ranging from innocent young girls to prominent personalities of Manipuri society, the student body stated.

It has come to our knowledge that the group was first created on January 29, 2021 and the members of the group have grown at an unprecedented rate since then, it stated.

Numerous individuals have tried reporting the group on Facebook but no actions were forthcoming as Facebook maintains that the group didn't violate Facebook's Community Standards, it stated.

The body has come to know that Film Forum Manipur has also filed an official complaint as various film actresses of Manipuri cinema became a victim of the group.

Complaints by individual victims were also filed, it stated while adding that a legal notice has been served by one 'Ms Victoria Okram' against the admin of this group.

"However, unfortunately, to our knowledge, no substantial actions have been taken up.

In some way, we feel that the issue is not being considered of the highest importance.

The admin and the members of the group continue to perform their deplorable actions freely, even with an attitude of defiance," stated the student body while expressing utmost fear that the continued presence of this group will only corrupt the youths and further fuel the current climate of sexual harassment, abuse and violence.

MSAD is not deluded into believing that shutting down a single Facebook group would alone solve the monumental problem that lay before all, it said.

Moreover, the continued existence of the group has caused distress to many and more, so as the victims of this group, it stated while expressing believe that necessary actions taken up to restrict the group and providing justice to the victims will help in our larger struggle for gender equality and respectability.

MSAD also body lists up three demands which are:
1.To speed up the investigation against the said group and take up necessary actions against other groups operating on similar lines.

2.To permanently shut down the said group and other like ones.

3.Take up legal action against the admin and related members of the said group according to due process of law.

In the meantime, Women in Governance (WinG) also expressed great displeasure at learning the existence of such a Facebook group and urged the State authorities for exemplary action and punishment against the admin and his team.

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