Outrage in Manipur: Women Set Suspect's House on Fire in Response to Sex Assault

 In Manipur, a northeastern state of India, women took matters into their own hands by attacking the house of the main suspect involved in a heinous sexual assault case. The incident occurred two months ago when the suspect reportedly dragged two tribal women onto the streets, inciting a mob to rape and publicly humiliate them. This shocking crime gained widespread attention across the nation after a video of the incident went viral on social media, leading to unrest and outrage in Manipur. State police provided the details of the incident on Friday.

Women Assault Accused Houses Burnt Down

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Following the condemnation of the assault by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the main suspect, who is a resident of Manipur, was swiftly arrested on Thursday. The Prime Minister branded the attack as "shameful" and pledged strong action in response.

In addition to the main suspect, three more individuals were arrested, and the police are actively pursuing at least 30 others who were involved in the crime.

In a powerful act of protest, local women took matters into their own hands and attacked the house of the prime accused in a village. They pelted stones and set some parts of his house on fire, demonstrating their outrage and demand for justice.

Hemant Pandey, a senior police official in the state capital Imphal, reported these developments surrounding the case. The incident has sparked significant public outcry and is being closely monitored by the authorities.

"We urge women to express their grievances peacefully, given the heightened tension in the area. We empathise with their anger," he stated.

According to the police complaint filed in May, a distressing incident occurred in Kangpokpi district where an armed mob targeted houses in a village, setting them on fire and causing significant damage. The attack was specifically directed at members of the Kuki tribe, resulting in a tragic and devastating situation.

As per the filed police complaint, the mob committed further heinous acts by sexually assaulting two women, aged 21 and 19, who were subjected to the horrifying ordeal of being paraded naked in public. This shocking incident has added to the gravity of the situation and has triggered widespread outrage and condemnation.

 

The sexual assault incident was reported by the victims in May, during a period of intense ethnic clashes in the state. The clashes were sparked by a court order that required the government to consider extending special benefits, currently enjoyed by the tribal Kuki people, to the majority Meitei population as well.

The violence that erupted as a result of this court order has been devastating, leading to the loss of at least 125 lives and forcing over 40,000 people to flee their homes.

In response to the latest incident, protests are being planned in various parts of India by rights groups, demanding justice and swift investigations. This incident has once again brought to light the safety concerns faced by women in the country, raising important questions about the need for greater protection and accountability.

 

"We demand answers as to why the police failed to act swiftly when they were aware of the horrifying rapes and public humiliation in Manipur," expressed Radhika Burman, a student leading a public demonstration in Kolkata.

In Bengaluru, hundreds of demonstrators marched with banners declaring, "Women's body is not a battlefield," while also questioning the authorities' failure to investigate the case reported by the minority tribal community victims back in May.

H. J. Lakshmi, from Samakaleena Samajik Sanskritik Vedike, a civil society organization in Bengaluru, voiced their concern, stating, "This is a blatant injustice and negligence."

Similar protests were held in Bhubaneswar in the east and on college campuses across the country.

Prime Minister Modi, who had remained silent on the matter in a state governed by his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), finally spoke out a day after videos depicting the assault on women went viral.