Imphal: Manipur police Wednesday filed an FIR after a 55-second video went viral that showed two Kuki women being paraded naked by a large mob.
The despicable scene, which allegedly happened on May 4, somewhere in Kangpokpi district, a day after the current sectarian violence started in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, shows the mob constantly molesting and groping the women and the helpless women crying and pleading with their captors.
“As regards the viral videos of two women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May, 2023, a case of abduction, gangrape and murder etc was registered at Nongpok Sekmai PS (Thoubal district) against unknown armed miscreants and the investigation has been started. The state police are making an all-out effort to arrest the culprits at the earlier,” a statement issued by the Manipur police department said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been silently watching the violence for the last 78 days, condemned the incidents linked to sexual atrocities in Manipur and said that “What has happened to daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven, the guilty will not be spared.” He also urged all state chief ministers to ensure the safety of women.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Monsoon session of the Parliament that begins Thursday, PM Modi said, “This is a shameful incident for any society…who did this and who is responsible is another issue but this has put our nation to shame. I appeal to all chief ministers to tighten law and order. Whether it’s Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh or Manipur… the issue of a woman’s honour is above all politics”.
Terming the incident as “inhuman”, Minister N Biren Singh said that the state government was considering “capital punishment” for those who were involved in the incident.
Biren said, “After taking a suo-motu cognisance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur police swung to action and made the first arrest this morning. A thorough investigation is currently underway and we will ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment.”
The Supreme Court on Thursday said it was “deeply disturbed” by the video of two women in Manipur being paraded naked.
Terming it “simply unacceptable”, a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud directed the centre and state government to take immediate steps and apprise the apex court of what action has been taken.
“We will give a little time to the government to act otherwise we will take action if nothing is happening on the ground,” the bench, also comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra, said.
In a new development, Manipur police arrested one alleged accused, identified as Heradas, 32, from Thoubal district Thursday.
