Shruti Suman
Police in Manipur have arrested four individuals involved in a heinous act where three women were paraded, assaulted, and stripped on May 4. The disturbing video of the incident surfaced on Wednesday, causing widespread outrage across the country, especially in light of the ongoing ethnic violence in the northeastern state. One of the alleged perpetrators, Huirem Herodas Meitei, a 32-year-old man from Pechi Awang Leikai, was apprehended on Thursday morning.
The incident, which came to light after over 70 days, involved one of the women from a family being gang-raped, while a mob of 800-1,000 individuals killed her brother and father on the same day. The family had sought refuge in a forest to escape an armed mob that had invaded their village, causing destruction to their homes. The police later managed to rescue the family.
Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between two community that is Meiteis, mainly residing in the Imphal valley, and the Kukis, occupying the hills. The violence has resulted in over 160 deaths so far.
The tension escalated when the Kukis began protesting against the Meiteis’ demand for official tribal status, which the Kukis argued would further empower the Meiteis and impact land ownership and settlement in predominantly Kuki areas. However, the roots of the conflict are multifaceted, with issues such as the alleged war on drugs by the Meitei-led government, illegal migration from Myanmar, land use pressures, and unemployment contributing to the unrest.
The video of the sexual assault surfaced late due to internet suspension in Manipur since May 3. The state government extended the ban multiple times to prevent the spread of rumors and potentially inciting content on social media platforms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condemnation of the incident, stating that those responsible for such an act would not be spared. PM Modi urged all state Chief Ministers to prioritize the safety of women and take appropriate measures to maintain law and order. The incident has brought national shame and calls for immediate action to address the issue of women’s safety.
