Superintendent of Police Archives - Lokmarg

Manipur: 5th Accused Arrested In Viral Video Case

By LokMarg 22nd July 2023

The Manipur police on Saturday arrested another accused in connection with a viral video which showed two women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted in Manipur.

Yesterday, four others who were arrested on July 20 were remanded to 11-day police custody.
“This is the fifth arrest made so far in connection with the months-old video, which went viral days ago,” Manipur police said today.

All-out efforts are being taken to arrest the remaining culprits by conducting raids at many suspected hideouts, Manipur police said in a tweet.

The first arrest in the case was made in the early hours of Thursday, hours after the video surfaced widely.

According to a senior police official the incident took place on May 4 in Manipur’s Thoubal district and a case of abduction, gangrape and murder was registered in the matter.

Superintendent of Police (SP), K Meghachandra Singh in a statement on July 19 said “As regards the video of 2 (two) women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May 2023, a case of abduction, gangrape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai Police Station (Thoubal district) against unknown armed miscreants.”

Manipur has been witnessing violence since May 3, following the protests by the Kuki and Naga communities against the High Court’s order asking the state government to consider the inclusion of Meitei community in the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST). Only STs can buy lands in hilly areas.

The majority Meitei community, which occupy the Imphal valley and nearby areas, sought the ST status keeping in view their increasing population and increased requirement of land, so that they could purchase lands in the hilly areas.

Earlier on Friday, state Chief Minister N Biren Singh evaded a question on the demand for him to step down, stating that his job was to restore peace to the state and ensure that the perpetrators of the alleged incident in the viral video are brought to book.

On the raucous protests by the Opposition in Parliament over the issue, Singh said the people in Manipur treat all women in the same way as they do their mothers and sisters and never condone crime, adding that this explains why there were ongoing statewide protests in Manipur.

Earlier, on Thursday, Singh told ANI that the video of the incident was leaked after 40 days and was from May 4, a day after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur.

“Really shocked when I saw the video. I inquired about the incident and learned that it happened on May 4. This video was leaked after 40 days. I ordered a combing operation (to track down the accused), and, last night itself, we arrested one of the accused,” the Manipur chief minister said on Thursday, adding that the government will take strict action against all the perpetrators and would even consider pressing for death penalty for the perpetrators. (ANI)

NCPCR, NCW Have Taken Cognizance Of Jodhpur Incident: Smriti

By LokMarg 20th July 2023

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on Thursday said that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and National Commission for Women have taken cognizance of the Rajasthan’s Jodhpur incident.

“Both @NCPCR and @NCW have taken cognisance of the horrific incident in Rajasthan”, tweeted Union Minister Irani.
The statement came after the Jodhpur Police recovered four charred bodies from a hut at Cherai village in Ramnagar gram panchayat of Jodhpur. As per the information, the family members were first murdered and then their bodies were set on fire.

Dharmendra Yadav, Superintendent of Police, Jodhpur Rural told ANI, “The Jodhpur police have recovered 4 burnt bodies from a hut in Ramnagar village. Further investigation is underway”.

Coming down heavily on the Congress government over the recovery of the charred bodies, the BJP demanded the resignation of CM Gehlot.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Rajendra Rathore, on Wednesday, said law and order in the state had deteriorated to such as extent that even the legislators of the ruling Congress were not safe.

His remark came amid a walkout by the BJP members from the Assembly on Wednesday, citing law and order.

Addressing media persons after the walkout, Rathore lashed out at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, claiming that he has failed to discharge his duties as the Home minister, a portfolio he holds additionally.

“CM Gehlot has failed in his additional role as the Home Minister of the state. Even their (Congress’s) own MLAs are saying that they are not feeling safe in the state. The law and order situation has deteriorated in Rajasthan. Today, the state is in the shadows of gangsters,” the BJP leader said.

Bharatiya Janta Party Rajasthan State President Chandra Prakash Joshi sought Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s resignation following the matter.

The BJP State president said, “The incident is shameful, the Chief Minister should resign from his post for this incident which took place in the home district of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot”.

He added, “Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is busy increasing the glory of his son Vaibhav Gehlot but the glory of Rajasthan is decreasing.”.”The number of crimes is continuously increasing in Rajasthan from several times”, he said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Divya Madrena on Wednesday appealed to the government to take note of the law and order situation in Jodhpur.

“Despite being a woman MLA, I am not safe in Rajasthan. I have complained so many times about impending attacks on me. The attackers are roaming freely. They pass by my home often. No arrests have been made. I appeal to the government to take note of the law and order situation in Jodhpur”, said Madrena. (ANI)

Centre Orders Twitter, Social Media To Take Down Video On Manipur Women

By LokMarg 20th July 2023

The Centre on Thursday asked Twitter and other social media to take down the video of two Manipuri women being paraded naked as the matter is under investigation.

As per sources, the Government has told social media platforms operating in India that it is imperative for them to adhere to Indian laws. The order was given after a video of the incident went viral on social media triggering shock and outrage.
According to the sources, “The government has issued an order to Twitter and other social media platforms, instructing them not to share the viral video of the two Manipuri women being paraded nude. It is imperative for the social media platforms to adhere to Indian laws as the matter is currently under investigation.”

According to a senior police official the incident took place on May 4 in Manipur’s Thoubal district and a case of abduction, gangrape and murder has been registered in the matter.

“The investigation has started and the state police is making an all-out effort to arrest the culprits at the earliest,” the statement read.

The police statement was also tweeted by BJP Leader and IT Cell in-charge Amit Malviya.

Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare Smriti Irani tweeted that she had spoken to Chief minister Biren Singh over the issue. “The horrific video of sexual assault of 2 women emanating from Manipur is condemnable and downright inhuman. Spoke to CM N Biren Singh ji who has informed me that the investigation is currently underway & assured that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice,” Irani tweeted.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his tweet claimed that the Prime Minister’s silence on the issue has pushed the state into anarchy.

“PM’s silence and inaction has led Manipur into anarchy. INDIA will not stay silent while the idea of India is being attacked in Manipur. We stand with the people of Manipur. Peace is the only way forward,” the Congress leader tweeted. (ANI)