Viral video: Mob torches house of second accused
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal/Imphal, July 21 2023: A mob torched the house of another person accused of involvement in the ghastly act of parading two Kuki women naked, the video of which went viral on June 19 .

Few hours after a police team visit a family at Wang-jing Hodamba Mamang Leikai, purportedly to round up the suspect, people from the local ity congregated at the location around 10:30 am Friday, burned down the house.

The suspect has been identified as Laishram Kabichandra alias Singapur (20), son of L Ibomcha.

Kabichandra is yet to be ar rested as he possibly fled home on learning that police were looking for him.

On Thursday evening, an angry mob had burnt down the house of main accused identified as Huirem Haridas (32), s/o (L) H Rajen of Yairipok Bishnunaha, presently staying at Pechi Awang Leikai.

Speaking to media persons, local meira paibi activists asserted that any crime committed against women of any community will not be acceptable or tolerated and the perpetrators shall have to face the consequences.

While stating that the government should not be biased in the investigation process and initiation of actions, they also appealed to chief minister N Biren and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the prevailing crisis at the earliest.

The meira paibi activists also pronounced that the said suspect will not be allowed to live in the locality and no one should extend any help to him.

On Thursday evening, an agitated mob mostly comprising women set fire to the house of Haridas at Yairipok Pechi village in Thoubal district even as the police arrested four persons in connection with the shocking case of women disrobed and paraded.

According to chief minister N Biren Singh, who also holds the home portfolio, interrogation of the arrested persons is being conducted by senior police officials and the police are making all out efforts to arrest the remaining culprits at the earliest.

Director General of Police Rajiv Singh told the media that the women victims are now safe while another senior police official said that the search operation by the Manipur Police and other security forces have been continued in Kangpokpi, Thoubal and other adjoining districts to nab the culprits.

The official added that several police teams headed by senior officers were formed to supervise the extensive search to locate the offenders involved in the May 4 incident.

Meanwhile, the husband of one of two victims, had served the Indian Army as a Subedar of the Assam Regiment.

The former Army Subedar, who was posted in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force and a Kargil war veteran, while talking to a local television channel, lamented that though he protected the country, he could not save his wife from being humiliated by the mob.

"I fought for the nation in the Kargil but am deeply upset that I could not prevent the fellow villagers from humiliating and molesting my wife," the distressed former Army man rued.

He said that on the fateful May 4, the mob comprising men and women, burnt down several houses in the local -ity, dragged the victims out from the homes, disrobed them and forced them walk on the village roads in front of the people and recorded the horrific scene in camera.

Accusing the police of behaving like a "wooden doll", he demanded exemplary punishment for the people involved in the heinous incident.

In connection with the incident, the FIR filed on June 21, revealed the tale of mayhem which occurred before the abduction and shameful behaviour with tribal women.

The FIR claimed that one person was killed by the mob as he tried to protect his sister from being raped on May 4 before the two were paraded naked and molested in front of others.

"Around 900-1000 persons carrying sophisticated weapons like AK rifles, SLR, IN-SAS and .303 rifles forcefully entered our village (on May 4)...in Island subdivision, Kangpokpi district, about 68 km south from Saikul police station.

"The violent mob vandalised all the houses and burnt them to the ground after looting all the moveable properties," the FIR lodged at Saikul police station claimed.

The mob entered the village at around 3 pm and took away cash, furniture, electronic items, foodgrains, furniture and cattle heads from the houses, it said.

The mob also snatched away five people who were rescued by police personnel from a nearby forest, the FIR claimed.

The five villagers had fled to the forest in fear following the attack.

(With inputs from PTI) .

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