Manipur sexual assault case: Police nabs 19-year-old accused; fifth accused arrested in 3 days
Police officials reported that the suspect, who is a key accused in the case, hails from Wangjing in Thoubal district. However, the suspect remains at large as he managed to flee his home after learning that the police were searching for him, as stated by an official.
In a major crackdown in the Manipur sexual assault case, the police have arrested the fifth accused, identified as 19-year-old Yumlembam Nungsithoi Metei. This arrest comes after four individuals were already taken into custody in connection with the horrifying incident where two women from the Kuki community were paraded naked in the Kangpokpi district on May 4.
The accused were part of a mob involved in the incident, and all four have been remanded to 11-day police custody. The arrests were made on Thursday, a day after the 26-second video surfaced on July 19. Meanwhile, the house of another suspect, who is yet to be arrested, was vandalised and torched by angry locals on Friday afternoon, police said.
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Police officials reported that the suspect, who is a key accused in the case, hails from Wangjing in Thoubal district. However, the suspect remains at large as he managed to flee his home after learning that the police were searching for him, as stated by an official.
On Thursday, the house of the primary accused was set ablaze, just hours after his arrest. Police revealed that the accused played a prominent role in directing the mob in the video that captured the horrific incident at B. Phainom village in Kangpokpi district.
The viral video features one of the victims, who happens to be the wife of a former Indian Army Subedar from the Assam Regiment, a valiant soldier who had also served during the Kargil War. The complaint linked to this distressing video was lodged about a month ago, precisely on June 21, at the Saikul police station in Kangpokpi district.
It is reportedly said that the FIR unravels the tale of chaos that unfolded before the abduction and disgraceful treatment of the tribal women, an appalling incident captured in the video, which has now led to a series of raids and arrests of those involved.
The state of Manipur has been marred by over 160 fatalities and numerous injuries due to the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3. This upheaval was sparked by a 'Tribal Solidarity March' organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's pursuit of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.