Indian police have arrested four men accused of parading two women naked in Manipur. The incident occurred in early May, and a video clip capturing it went viral on social media. It led to widespread outrage across the country.
The police in Manipur identified the suspects from the video and announced their arrest on Twitter late on Thursday. The incident took place in a region where months of ethnic violence have resulted in the deaths of at least 120 people.
The video clip depicted the women being taunted while walking naked along a street. She was also harassed by a mob in Manipur, where the authorities had imposed an internet shutdown.
The state government of Manipur, led by the ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stated that the police took action after the video surfaced on social media. It has been more than two months since the incident occurred.
The chief minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, tweeted that a “thorough investigation” is currently underway in response to the incident.
The chief minister of Manipur stated, “We will take strict action against all perpetrators involved in the incident.” He said it also includes considering the possibility of capital punishment.
The violence in Manipur began with a dispute over access to government jobs and other benefits. The video clip led to people torching homes and churches, and many people sought refuge in government-run camps.
Intermittent clashes between vigilante groups from rival communities, the majority Meitei (mostly Hindus living in and around Imphal), and the mainly Christian Kuki in the surrounding hills have continued.
The civil society group, Manipur Tribal Forum, reported to the court that state authorities have not adequately investigated many acts of violence, including rape and beheading.
One incident involving an aide to a BJP lawmaker in Manipur holding a victim’s severed head appeared on Twitter. However, the platform quickly removed it.
Meitei’s demands for reserved public job quotas and college admissions as affirmative action sparked the violence. It created fears among the Kuki community that they might lose land reserved for tribal groups.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shame over the incident. India’s Supreme Court warned the government that it must take action, or the court would intervene.
