A graphic video showing two women being forced to walk by a baying mob in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur sparked outrage after it surfaced on social media, prompting the country's leader Narendra Modi to break his silence on the state's months-long interethnic conflict.
In the midst of ethnic unrest in India's Manipur state, a shocking video of a assault has emerged.
According to the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITL), the viral video represents an event on May 4, but police only made arrests after the film went viral this week.
On Wednesday, Manipur Police called the event "a case of abduction, gang torture, and murder" on Twitter.
Four people have been arrested, according to officials, and police raids are still proceeding. According to Reuters, authorities are questioning more than three dozen guys in connection with the purported assault.
CNN witnessed two terrified ladies being forced to go past a swarm of clothed males. The women appear to be groped and molested while surrounded by a throng of males, several of whom are holding long canes or sticks as weapons.
The horrifying film was released more than two months after the tragedy; continued ethnic unrest in Manipur prompted state-wide internet restrictions on May 3.
On Thursday, Pm addressed the state's condition for the first time, stating, My heart is filled with grief “After taking a Sumoto cognizance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur Police swung to action and made the first arrest this morning,” He wrote. Sumoto's cognizance is a procedure in Indian law allowing the court to take action in a case without a complaint being filed.
He added that “a thorough investigation is currently underway, we will ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment. Let it be known, there is absolutely no place for such heinous acts in our society.”
Manipur police later said that it had made three more arrests of people accused “of the heinous crime of abduction and gang rape.”
The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) issued notices Thursday to the state’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, calling for a detailed report on the case within four weeks.
The report should include the status of the investigation, health updates about female survivors and others injured, as well details about compensation – if any had been granted, NHRC said in a statement.
It also asked for details about steps proposed or taken to “safeguard citizens human rights, especially women and vulnerable sections of the society, from such barbaric incidents.”
The Indian government has issued an order to Twitter and other social media platforms, instructing them not to share the viral video, a source familiar with the matter told CNN Thursday, adding it is imperative for social media platforms to adhere to Indian laws as the matter is currently under investigation
"The video came out for the first time on July 18-19. Manipur CM N Singh and the BJP govt knew about this. Home minister Amit Shah knew about it for a month, and PM also knew about it. What happened to their conscience? As soon as the video came out, there was an uproar in the entire country. As a result, the accused was arrested within 24 hours...PM govt and Manipur's BJP govt are trying to push the people of the state into violence," says Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Manipur viral video
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