Moral policing : 12 remanded till Jan 25
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 12 2024: Porompat police have taken formal arrest of the 12 women who were pulled up on the charge of slapping a woman for celebrating the end of the year (December 31) and the advent of New Year after taking due approval from the Court in another case of moral policing.

All 12 of them are members of Huiyen Mamom and the video of them beating the woman is doing the rounds on social media.

The verdict which allowed the police to formally arrest the accused (the 12 women) was given by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West.

The 12 women were produced before the Court virtually as the period of their police custody remand expired today.

The 12 accused are Heiza Ahanthem (26), d/o Jadumani of Nambol Phoijing Makha Leikai; Pheiroijam Jenita (23), d/o Jila of Khurai Sajor Leikai; Sanjita Lairenlakpam (28), d/o Brajamani of Chingarel Tejpur; Ngangkham Yaisana Chanu (22), d/o Premchand of Khurai Thongam Leikai; Ahanthem Roshini (22), d/o Kanhai of Sawombung Gate; Babita Kangjam (28), d/o Bhupen of Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai; Moirangthem Sarjubala (21), d/o Inao of Keibi Awang Leikai; Wahengbam Goldpriya (21), d/o Ojit of Itham Nungoi Makha Leikai; Sibani Hijam (24), d/o Bhupendro of Uripok Polem Leikai; Nungshithoi alias Henja Leitanthem (22), d/o Shyam of Waiton Mayai Leikai; Sanjana Thangjam (25), d/o Modhu of Khurai Konsam Leikai and Irom Nirupama (26), d/o Raja of Bamdiyar Mayai Leikai.

The Porompat police sought formal arrest of the 12 accused based on a FIR lodged before Imphal East SP pertaining to assault of another woman and sharing the incident live on Facebook on January 4 .

As per the complainant, she and one of her friend's relatives exchanged text messages in a cordial manner on January 4 but the conversation turned into argument shortly after.

She claimed that her friend's relative used derogatory language against her apart from accusing her of following Khurai AC MLA L Susindro blindly.

The complainant admitted that she unintentionally called the women group Huiyen Mamom after she was provoked during the chat.

Claiming that her relative's friend took a screenshot of the messages and shared them to Huiyen Mamom by disregarding her privacy, the complainant continued that some members of Huiyen Mamom came to her house on January 5 and took her alone to Khurai Puthiba Laishang and assaulted her.

She claimed that the members of Huiyen Mamom also took video recordings of the thrashing.

Saying that she also apologised to the group for calling them otherwise after they stopped beating her, the complainant continued that she saw the clip of them beating her being shared on social media possibly to humiliate her.

The Porompat police submitted that the action taken by the members of Huiyen Mamom were unlawful.

The police further submitted that there are multiple reports of Huiyen Mamom being involved in moral policing while praying before the Court to allow them to formally arrest the 12 women.

The Court after hearing the submission and on perusal of the application allowed the police to take formal arrest of the 12 accused.

In the case pertaining to the celebration of December 31 night and New Year, another team of Imphal police sought approval from the Court to send all the 12 accused to judicial custody during the hearing today.

The defence counsel, on the other hand, filed a remand objection and sought bail for the 12 accused.

The APP for the State submitted that all the 12 accused were arrested on January 9 and have accepted the charges levelled against them.

During investigation it has been confirmed that the accused intentionally assaulted the woman on the charge of celebrating December 31 night and the advent of New Year by consuming alcohol and shared the incident live on Facebook, the APP said.

The Court, after hearing the submission of the APP, defence counsel and on perusal of the material on record, remanded them (the 12 accused) to judicial custody till January 25 .

Comment