Twelve teams of Manipur police have fanned out to track the culprits of the brutal gangrape and assault on two women who were paraded naked. One of the accused in the case has also been arrested in connection with the case which sparked nationwide outrage.
The accused, identified as 32-year-old Khuirem Herodas, has been booked under IPC Section 376 for gang rape, kidnapping for murder and wrongful restraint. He is learnt to be the person in the green shirt in the abominable video.
Police sources said he is being interrogated on the whereabouts of the other accused. "The arrested accused has been booked under the stringent sections of the law for gangrape and common intention (IPC section 370 D read with section 34). All the culprits will face similar charges as assisting the crime or being present will attract the same penal provisions as the main offence," said a senior government official in Manipur.
A senior government official added that efforts are also on to identify the victims and reach out to them to provide assistance.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh took to Twitter to promise strict action is taken against perpetrators. "After taking a Suo-moto cognisance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur Police swung to action and made the first arrest this morning. A thorough investigation is currently underway and we will ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment," his tweet read.
The arrest comes as the state administration struggles to get on its toes amid the outrage triggered by the horrific crime. The state had witnessed a near collapse of law and order for two months after violent clashes broke out between the Meitis and Kukis. The state is expected to see more tensions in the coming days in the wake of the atrocities and crimes against women who have been at the forefront of the protests.
SC expresses shock
The arrest came as the Supreme Court said it was "really disturbed over the video". Urging the government to take action, Chief Justice of India
D Y Chandrachud also directed the Centre and Manipur government to apprise it of the action taken to bring perpetrators to book. "What is portrayed in the media about visuals which appeared shows gross constitutional violation and infraction of human life using women as instruments of perpetrated violence is against constitutional democracy," the CJI said.
The Supreme Court posts the matter for further hearing on next Friday.
Meanwhile, the Centre has ordered Twitter and other social media platforms to take down the footage. The video from the strife-ridden state has stoked outrage all over the country. "It is imperative for social media platforms to adhere to Indian laws as the matter is currently under investigation," ANI quoted government sources.
'When will CM be replaced'?
The Congress has hit out at the BJP, asking when will Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh be replaced. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said it has been 78 days since full-scale ethnic violence broke out in Manipur and 77 days since the ghastly incident where two women were stripped, paraded and allegedly raped. "It has been 63 days since an FIR was filed against unknown persons and the culprits are still at large," he said.
"The rest of India had little clue that such a horrific incident occurred due to the ongoing Internet ban in Manipur. But it's absolutely inexcusable that the Women and Child Development Minister (Smriti Irani) waited for 76 days to speak to the Manipur CM or even issue a statement," Ramesh said in his long Twitter post.
"Was the Union government, the home minister or the prime minister not aware of this? When will the Modi government stop acting like all is well?" he said.
Rahul Gandhi also reacted to the video, stating "INDIA (opposition coalition) will not stay silent while the idea of India is being attacked" in the northeastern state.
(With inputs from Namrata Biji Ahuja)