1 More Arrested In Horrific Manipur Video Case

Police arrested another accused in connection with the horrific case of two women being paraded naked in Manipur.

A massive manhunt has been launched to track down a dozen suspects who could be seen in the viral video.

A video shot on May 4 surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities in Manipur being paraded naked and molested by a mob from the other side.

The alleged main accused was arrested on Thursday. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation across the country.

The house of the key accused in the case was torched on Thursday, hours after he was arrested by the police. According to the police, he was seen prominently directing the mob at B Phainom village of Kangpokpi district in the video.

One of the women seen in the video is the wife of an ex-army man who had served in the Indian Army as a subedar of the Assam Regiment and even fought in the Kargil War.

The complaint in connection with the viral video was lodged around a month ago -- June 21 -- at Saikul police station in Kangpokpi district.

The FIR filed in this case, a copy of which has been seen by PTI, revealed the tale of mayhem which occurred before the abduction and shameful behaviour with tribal women, a video of which has now formed the basis of raids and arrests of people connected with the incident.

The FIR claimed that one person was killed by the mob as he tried to protect his sister from being raped on May 4 before the two were paraded naked and molested in front of others.

Taking suo moto action in the matter, the Manipur Police the same night registered a case of abduction, gang rape, and murder at Nongpok Sekmai Police Station in Thoubal district against unidentified men.

Nearly 160 people have lost their lives and several injured since ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts.