Manipur parade incident: Man part of mob arrested; CM says culprits deserve capital punishment
Imphal, Jul 20: A man who was part of the mob that paraded naked two tribal women in Kangpokpi district of Manipur and was seen dragging one of them was arrested on Thursday as the incident of May 4 drew widespread condemnation.
Police said the arrested person was seen prominently directing the mob at B. Phainom village of Kangpokpi district in the 26-second video that surfaced on Wednesday.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the video, police last night said a case of abduction, gang rape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unknown armed men and that all-out efforts were on to arrest the culprits at the earliest.
During the night-long raids, supervised by senior IPS officers, the person identified as Huirem Heradash Singh, age 32, was arrested from Thoubal district while a manhunt has been launched to nab others.
The two women are alleged to have been sexually assaulted before being set free by the mob comprising the majority community.
Meanwhile, villagers set the house of accused of Heradash Singh on fire and have also ostracised his family.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh termed the incident as "inhuman" and said the culprits deserve a "capital punishment".
Expressing strong condemnation, he labelled it as a crime against humanity and maintained that his government would not remain silent on this heinous crime.
He said that immediately after seeing the video, he had directed the Cyber Crime Department to check its authenticity and also instructed officials to conduct a mass combing operation at the suspected areas to nab the culprits.
Singh further said his government was putting in all possible efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the state and talks have been held with various civil society organizations of different communities, businessmen, leaders of religious institutions as part this process.
"As we have lived together for a long time and must live together in future too, misunderstanding amongst communities can be sorted out and addressed with talks, so that we can live together again peacefully," he added.
Influential Meitei body - Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) - also issued a statement saying it strongly condemns "the barbaric and uncivilised act of violence on two ladies parading naked in broad daylight at a remote village in Manipur".
The statement said that COCOMI is trying all possible means to hunt down the culprits wherever they are.
"The entire Meitei community is in deep shame and anguish over the clip...COCOMI firmly believes that all those involved in the barbaric act will not be spared by the Meetei community in any ways and befitting punishment will surely be given to everyone involved in the crime," it said.
One of the eyewitnesses of the May 4 incident, Hahat Vaiphei, claimed the villagers of B Phainom thwarted a similar attempt by a mob the previous day.
"When we started to relocate from the village, we were caught by the mob. They dragged us away from the village as we made appeals to spare us," Vaiphei told a YouTube channel run from neighbouring Mizoram.
She said the mob forced the two women to parade naked before raping them.
More than 160 people have lost their lives, and several have been 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.
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Maharashtra, Haryana Elections doctored, wasn't free and fair: Cong says after CWC meeting
Belagavi: The Congress party held a press conference on Thursday following the conclusion of its Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Belagavi. This significant meeting marked the centenary of the party's only session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi in Belgaum in 1924.
Addressing the media, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Communications In-Charge Jairam Ramesh, and Spokesperson Pawan Khera outlined the key takeaways from the discussions held during the meeting.
The leaders revealed that the CWC deliberated extensively on various issues concerning the party's future direction and strategies. The major points discussed included:
1. Organizational Revamp:
The Congress emphasized restoring accountability among its leaders at every level. It was decided that an organizational revamp would be carried out to strengthen the party's presence and performance on the ground.
2. Massive Political Campaigns:
To reconnect with the masses, the party has planned a series of campaigns and events, including:
- Nationwide rallies and padayatras to be held on December 27, 2024, and January 26, 2026.
- A special campaign titled Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan aimed at addressing threats to the Constitution and raising issues affecting the common man.
3. Upcoming AICC Session:
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) will hold its next session in Gujarat in April 2025, which is expected to set the tone for the party's strategy leading into upcoming elections.
The Congress leaders also expressed serious concerns regarding the transparency and impartiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI). They specifically pointed to the recent elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, alleging that the process was manipulated.
Jairam Ramesh stated, “Both the Maharashtra and Haryana elections were doctored. These were not free and fair elections at all. The attitude and functioning of the ECI in these states raise serious doubts about their commitment to democratic principles.”
The CWC meeting in Belagavi holds historical significance as it commemorated 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Congress session in Belgaum in 1924. The leaders used the occasion to reflect on Gandhi’s vision for India and pledged to uphold the values of justice, equality, and democracy that he stood for.
With the announcement of these initiatives and campaigns, the Congress party aims to reinvigorate its base and challenge the ruling government on critical issues.
Watch: Press briefing by Shri @kcvenugopalmp, Shri @Jairam_Ramesh and Shri @Pawankhera after the conclusion of CWC meeting in Belagavi, Karnataka. https://t.co/8SI8xhItEl
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 26, 2024
बेलगावी में हुई विस्तारित CWC की ‘नव सत्याग्रह’ बैठक में हमारा नव संकल्प - संविधान की रक्षा के लिए हम संगठित हैं, संकल्पित हैं, समर्पित हैं! pic.twitter.com/QK1JwwgU4G
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 26, 2024
