New Delhi: The Manipur Police has suspended five officers over the May 4 incident where three Kuki women were sexually assaulted and paraded naked by a mob of Meitei men during ethnic clashes in the state. Those suspended include the station in-charge of Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district.
The state government acted upon this incident only after a video of the women being paraded went viral on July 19 – even though a ‘zero FIR’ was filed by the Saikul police, in Kangpokpi district, on May 18. This FIR was then forwarded to the Nongpok Sekmai police station.
After the incident came to light, Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh said “hundreds of similar cases have happened”.
The suspension decision was taken soon after the video went viral on July 19, officials told PTI.
The Supreme Court had taken suo moto cognisance of the video, and later two of the women involved had approached the apex court. They have requested that that court order a fair and impartial inquiry into the case.