Manipur: Six, Including Minor, Arrested In Viral Video Case So Far, Say Police

After the viral video of two women paraded naked went viral on May 4, another suspect was apprehended on Saturday (July 22), bringing the total number of arrests to six.

Protest against ethnic violence in Manipur (Representational Image)

Source : PTI

Manipur Police said on Saturday (July 22) that another suspect had been arrested in connection with the May 4 incident in which two women were paraded naked, one of whom was sexually assaulted, bringing the total number of arrests to six. According to a police tweet, five of those arrested are considered the primary suspects in the case. 

"01 (one) juvenile have been arrested/apprehended in the case so far. The State Police is making all-out effort to arrest the remaining culprits by conducting raids at many suspected hideouts," the police said in another tweet. 

The following day, the first arrest in connection with the incident was made. A man who was part of the mob that paraded the women in B Phainom village and was seen dragging one of them was apprehended. Three more arrests were made later that day.

The May 4 incident drew widespread condemnation, and the alleged main accused was arrested on Thursday. 

Since May 3, over 160 people have died and many more have been injured as a result of the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. In response to protests against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, the 'Tribal Solidarity March' erupted in the hill districts.

A video from May 4 surfaced on Wednesday, showing two women from one of Manipur's warring communities being paraded naked and molested by an opposing mob.

The alleged main accused was apprehended on Thursday. The incident has sparked outrage across the country. An FIR was filed in connection with the incident on June 21.

More than 160 people have died and several have been injured since ethnic violence erupted in the state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for approximately 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live primarily in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, account for 40 per cent and live primarily in the hill districts.