On Wednesday, a 2-month-old video from Manipur surfaced on social media, and following that a massive uproar took place both on social media and the political fraternity. Entire India went into shock after the video showed two Manipuri women were paraded without clothes by a mob of men. While netizens demanded the PMO to take swift and strict actions against the people involved in the incident, the opposition parties slammed PM Narendra Modi over his silence on the Manipur violence. In fact, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge gave notice to the chairman of the Rajya Sabha to discuss the Manipur violence in the parliament. On the other hand, Manipur Police on Wednesday had stated that it has already registered a formal complaint against the mob of men and currently investigating the matter. Now, multiple reports suggest that the Manipur Police has arrested the main accused in the case.
As per reports, the accused identified as Heradas (32) was arrested from Thoubal district with the help of the viral video that showed him wearing a green shirt. Although not much information has been revealed about the Heradas, this is indeed a positive development in a situation when entire country has been asking for justice for the women.
Manipuri women paraded case
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Two Manipuri women were paraded without clothes by a mob of men allegedly belonging to the Meitei community in Manipur. Reportedly, three women were "physically forced to remove their clothes and were stripped in front of the mob." A complaint filed on 21 June at Saikul Police Station by the head of B Phainom village. As per the complainant, one of the women was brutally gang-raped, and her brother and father were murdered by the mob. A zero FIR was registered under sections 302 (murder), 354 (outraging a woman's modesty), 376 (rape), and 326 (causing grevious hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The state of Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 this year between the majority the Meiteis, concentrated in Imphal valley, and the Kukis, occupying the hills. Over 160 people have been killed in the violence so far.