Anger spark after bare viral video, mob burns main accused house

Kangpokpi: Two days after a video surfaced of two women being paraded naked by a violent mob in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, unidentified miscreants torched the house of the main accused on July 21.
The tragic incident took place in a village in Kangpokpi district, following ethnic violence that erupted in the northeastern state on May 3. The horrifying footage surfaced on July 19, just after the internet ban was lifted in the state.
The circulation of the video sparked widespread outrage across the country, prompting the Manipur police to take cognizance of the matter.
On the night of July 19, they registered a case of kidnapping, gang-rape, and murder at the Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unidentified persons believed to be involved in the heinous act.
According to official sources, in the latest development, four persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.
However, the investigation is still ongoing and police officials say they are determined to bring all the culprits to justice.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and assured the people of a thorough investigation into the incident.
He vowed to take stern action against those responsible for such a heinous crime, including the possibility of the death penalty.
The horrific incident has come amid rising communal tensions in Manipur. Since May 3, more than 150 people have lost their lives, and many others have been injured due to the ongoing violence in the state.
The situation escalated in the hill districts during the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’, which was organized to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.