CBI Takes Over Probe Of Manipur Sex Assault Where Women Paraded Naked

Manipur Sexual Assault Case: A video shot on May 4, showing the two women being paraded naked, was seen on social media earlier this month, resulting in massive outrage across the country.

Manipur Women Paraded Naked: The CBI has taken over the FIR registered by the Manipur Police

New Delhi: Officials said today that the CBI has taken over the probe into a case of two women being sexually assaulted by a mob on May 4 in Manipur, whose video footage went viral earlier this month on social media.

On July 19, a video that showed two women from one of the state's warring tribes being paraded naked by men from the opposing side caused widespread concern about suspected crimes being perpetrated in the northeastern state.

The two defenseless women are displayed in the widely condemned film being repeatedly molested by the males while they beg the men to spare them the agony.

According to the officials, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) received a referral for the case from the Union Home Ministry.

The CBI was already involved in six instances involving violence in Manipur, therefore the administration decided to turn over the case of the alleged attack to them.

At the Nongpok Sekmai police station in the Thoubal district, the state police had filed a case of kidnapping, gang rape, and murder on May 18 against unnamed armed individuals.

According to its process, the CBI has taken over the FIR that the Manipur Police had filed as its own case.

The federal agency has already placed a DIG-rank officer in charge of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) stationed in the northeastern state.

In addition to forensic experts, the CBI would send some more female officers to investigate the case, according to the officials.

On the eve of a protest march scheduled by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) to draw attention to the condition of tribal people in Manipur, the video was doing the rounds on social media.

The disgusting scenario, which took place on May 4 in the Kangpokpi region, "shows men constantly molesting the helpless women, who cry and plead with their captors," a representative for the ITLF said.

The decision of the criminals to post the film, which reveals the identities of the victims, on social media, only serves to magnify the horrible event endured by the two women.

Both India's Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their profound sorrow at the occurrence, calling it "shameful" and "unacceptable."

Ethnic tensions between the Kukis, who live in the hills and make up the majority Meitei population in Manipur, have been present since May 3.

There have been more than 150 fatalities as a result of the violence.

Tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, make up 40% of Manipur's population and are primarily concentrated in the hill regions, whereas Meiteis make up around 53% of the population and reside primarily in the Imphal valley.