A day ahead of the Supreme Court's hearing of the gang rape case in Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the case concerning the viral video that showed two women being paraded naked by a mob, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The mobile phone from which Manipur women viral video was shot has been recovered and the person who shot the video is arrested. The centre also filed an affidavit in Supreme Court requesting that the trial of the case take place outside Manipur, in neighbouring Assam, and be concluded within six months. "The approach of the Central government is of zero tolerance towards any crimes," the Centre told the Supreme Court in the matter.
Officials told PTI that the Home Ministry is in touch with both Meitei and Kuki groups and efforts are ongoing to restore normalcy in the violence-hit state. The concerned video sparked nationwide outrage amid the ongoing ethnic violence in the state. So far, Manipur Police have made eight arrests in the case, including one juvenile.
Security Beefed Up
Authorities have deployed additional security forces including over 35000 personnel from the Army, CRPF and CAPF. A buffer zone has also been created between the Meitei-dominated valley areas and the Kuki-dominated hill areas. Efforts are also underway to put fencing on the Indo-Myanmar border in the area - of which 10 km of Manipur-Mizoram border fencing has been completed. "The law and order situation is relatively better, however, not normal. No shortage of medicine and daily supplies; prices of food and essential supplies are under control," government sources said.
The government on Tuesday lifted the suspension on broadband internet conditionally in a "liberalised manner", nearly three months after it was banned due to the ethnic violence in the state. However, mobile internet and Wifi Hotspots will remain suspended.
