The retired Subedar, who valiantly served the nation, expresses profound sorrow at being unable to protect his own home and wife from the shocking act of violence, which has led to the arrest of four culprits while authorities intensify efforts to apprehend others involved.
A heart-wrenching revelation has emerged in the Manipur incident, where two women were paraded naked and molested by a group of men. The husband of one of the victims, a Kargil war veteran who served as a Subedar in the Indian Army, expressed his profound sorrow, lamenting that despite protecting the nation during his service, he was unable to shield his own home and wife from the cruel act of humiliation.
The shocking incident, which sparked widespread condemnation across the country, came to light when a video recorded on May 4 surfaced on Wednesday night. The husband narrated the harrowing events of that fateful morning when a mob set fire to several houses in the locality, forcibly disrobing the two women and parading them on the village paths in front of onlookers. Disturbingly, despite the presence of the police at the scene, no immediate action was taken to intervene.
"I fought for the nation in the Kargil war and was also part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka. I protected the nation, but I am dejected that after my retirement, I could not protect my home, my wife, and fellow villagers... I am sad, depressed," he sorrowfully shared during an interview with a Hindi news channel.
Demanding justice for the victims, the veteran urged that all those responsible for burning the houses and inflicting humiliation on the women be given exemplary punishment.
In response to the disturbing incident, the Manipur Police has taken prompt action, arresting four people in connection with the case on Thursday, just a day after the video surfaced. They have also assured that efforts to apprehend the remaining culprits are underway, with continuous raids being conducted.
The Manipur state has been engulfed in ethnic violence since May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The ongoing unrest has tragically resulted in over 160 deaths and numerous injuries.
The state's population comprises Meiteis, who account for approximately 53 percent, mainly residing in the Imphal Valley, and tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, constituting 40 percent, residing predominantly in the hill districts.