GUWAHATI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been granted custody of the four accused in the horrific Manipur viral video case on July 31.
The four accused, namely Huirem Herodash Meitei (32), Arun Khundongbam (29), Yumlembam Jiban Singh (18), and Ningombam Tomba Singh, were presented before a Special Judge in the state’s Thoubal, on Monday. Subsequently, their custody was transferred to the CBI till August 2.
The remaining three accused are expected to be brought before the Special Judge Thoubal in the next 2-3 days.
Earlier on July 29, the central agency had officially taken over the investigation into the alleged sexual assault on two women by a mob in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on May 4.
The FIR was officially lodged, citing charges of abduction, gang rape, murder, and use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty. With the viral video case, the number of cases being investigated by CBI in Manipur had gone up to seven.
Previously, a graphic video had surfaced on social media capturing a harrowing incident where a mob was seen forcing two women to walk naked on the streets, igniting public fury and drawing the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to the ongoing inter-ethnic conflict ravaging the state.
“My heart is filled with grief and anger. The incident in Manipur is shameful for any civil society. What happened with the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven… the law will take its course with all its might,” he was quoted as saying by various news publications.
According to reports in local media, the distressing incident had occurred on May 4, but it wasn’t until the video emerged online that the police took action and made several arrests. Manipur Chief Minister Biren N Singh had ordered the police to investigate this case in priority. The case was given to the central agency after the Centre filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court to hand over the case to CBI.
