No court willing to hear pleas of accused: JAC
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, May 17 2024: Despite earnest plea of family members of the seven individuals arrested in connection with the viral video of parading two Kuki women in nude on May 4 last year for hearing the case within the state, no court in Manipur is reportedly showing willingness to entertain appeals of the accused persons' families.

Addressing media persons in this regard at Nongpok Sekmai Bazar community hall, on Friday, JAC convenor Mani Khuman highlighted challenges faced by the family members of the accused in traveling to Assam for the case proceedings.

Referring to the difficulties encountered by these family members, the convenor called upon the state government to designate a court in Manipur to handle the case.

Numerous cases concerning the killing of people are being addressed within the state, with the accused granted bail within three months.

However, the accused in the widely circulated naked parade video have been imprisoned nearly a year, which is outright violation of their human rights, he contented.

Mani Khuman further highlighted that the seven accused individuals are enduring serious mental distress and urged both the state government and civil society organisations (CSOs) within the state to acknowledge this reality while imploring the CSOs to intervene and offer support accordingly.

He further stated that a public meeting on the matter would be soon convened in Thoubal, and urged the CSOs to participate.

Additionally, he emphasised the importance of the state government to ensure that the case proceeds in the right direction.

During the press briefing, Pukhrambam Langlen, wife of one of the accused persons, recalled that her husband was arrested for merely viewing a video depicting the two Kuki women stripped, an incident widely circulated on social media.

Given that her husband is the sole provider for their family, his arrest and the subsequent transfer of the case to Assam are making it challenging for her to attend court proceedings, she said, while appealing to both the state government and CSOs for assistance in her husband's case.

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