New Delhi: A Kargil war veteran, the husband of one of the two women shown as being paraded naked in a video from Manipur, on Friday lamented that despite having protected the country he could not prevent the outrage on his wife, news agency PTI reported. The incident, which is believed to be from May 4, when ethnic clashes erupted in the northeast state, came to light after a video went viral on Wednesday night.
According to PTI, the victim’s husband had served the Indian Army as a Subedar from the Assam Regiment.
“I fought for the nation in the Kargil war and was also in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. I protected the nation but am dejected that after my retirement, I could not protect my home, my wife and fellow villagers... I am sad, depressed,” he was quoted by PTI as telling a Hindi news channel.
He added that on May 4 morning, a mob went on the rampage, setting fire to many houses in his locality, stripping the two women and parading them in the village in full public glare, PTI reported.
"Police were present but took no action. I want that all those people who burnt the houses and humiliated the women get exemplary punishment," he said, according to PTI.
Further, according to PTI, one of the women seen in the video told a news website that she was asked by the accused to "lie down" in a field.
Meanwhile, speaking to ANI on Friday, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh informed that four persons, including the prime accused, have been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that all the perpetrators would be brought to book.
"The state police is making all-out efforts to arrest the other culprits at the earliest. Raids are continuing," the Manipur Police said in a Twitter post.