Manipur horror: Main accused arrested after 77 days; ‘India will never forgive’

A day after a two-month-old video of two women being paraded naked in Manipur surfaced on the internet, the key accused has been arrested, police said.

The accused, identified as Heradas (32), was arrested from Thoubal district with the help of the video that went viral in which he was seen wearing a green T-shirt, police said on Thursday.

Tensions are running high in the hilly areas of Manipur after the video of two women being paraded naked surfaced on the internet on Wednesday. The incident took place on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, a day after violence broke out in the northeast state.

Police registered a case of abduction, gangrape and murder and said an all-out effort was underway to arrest culprits and as many as 12 teams were formed to arrest the accused.

MANIPUR WOMEN PARADED NAKED, ONE GANG-RAPED

According to the police complaint, on the day of the incident, around 800 to 1,000 people carrying sophisticated weapons entered B. Phainom village and vandalised and looted properties and burnt down houses. The miscreants were suspected to be members of Meitei organisations.

During the attack, five villagers — two men and three women — fled to the forest. They were later rescued by Nongpok Sekmai Police team and were being taken to the police station when the mob abducted them.

The mob killed one of the men instantly and forced the three women to take off their clothes, as per the FIR. One of them, 21, was brutally gang raped and when her brother, 19, tried to intervene, he was murdered.

Terming the incident “downright inhuman”, Union Minister Smriti Irani said she has spoken to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, adding that an “investigation is currently underway” and “no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice.”N Biren Singh said he has ordered the police to investigate this case on priority.