Manipur violence update: Four men arrested and remanded to 11 days police custody after women stripped naked and parade in Manipur

Four men have been arrested in connection with the case of two women who were stripped naked, publicly paraded and allegedly gang raped in the state of Manipur, in an attack that caused outrage after it was captured in a viral video.

The Manipur Police on July 20 said that a total of four people have been arrested in the case of parading two women naked and sexually assaulting them on May 4 in Kangkopi district. “All four accused remanded to 11-day police custody,” Manipur police said.

Tension escalated in Manipur’s as a video of May 4 emerged on social media, showing men from one community parading two women naked from the opposing side.

The video also turned public attention to the violence that members of the Kuki community, in particular women, have faced since the ethnic conflict broke out in Manipur in early May.

The police faced criticism after it emerged that the attack on the women, who belong to the  Kuki tribe, had taken place in early May. Despite a police case being filed at the time, no action was taken for more than 77 days until the video went viral and pressure was put upon the authorities to act.

The authorities have been accused of turning a blind eye to some of the worst atrocities in Manipur, including beheadings and targeted assault, rape and torture of women.

The government had largely remained silent on the conflict, and a visit to the state by the home minister, Amit Shah, last month appeared to do little to ease tensions. However, after the release of the video, the supreme court demanded that the government get the situation under control in Manipur, stating “we will take action if you don’t”.

More than 140 people have died in the violence, and 60,000 have been displaced as the state has been in essence split down ethnic lines, since May 3.