Police Abandoned Manipur Women After Assault, Naked Parade, Another Incident Shattering Every Woman's Trust In Indian Police

The worst kind of betrayal is when those entrusted with protection deliberately abandon you, and add to your suffering instead of shielding you. Incomprehensible how the two women and a man abused in Manipur by a mob last year were forsaken by the police officers on the side, leading to a ghastly turn of events. 

This time last year, a mob allegedly started attacking people from the Meitei community, the dominant community over the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in the state and eviction of the Kuki-Zo villages by the government due to intrusion in the protected forest areas.

Amidst the violence, a group of villagers were trying to seek refuge in the forest when the mob took over and attacked them. The villagers were put through a horrifying ordeal. The women in the group were asked to strip and parade. The brother of one of the victims who tried to intervene was killed on the spot. Almost two months after the heinous crime, the perpetrators released the video online and soon it was all over the internet. 

Almost a year after the harrowing incident, disturbing details from CBI's investigation chargesheet are coming to light.

Victims Begged For Help

According to the CBI chargesheet (source: Indian Express), the women ran towards the police gypsy with policemen inside and a few of them standing outside. The male victim requested to policemen to start the gypsy and drive away but was told that 'there is no key'. They kept on begging the policemen but got no help. 

Suddenly, the driver started driving the gypsy and stopped around a mob. When the male victim requested the police to start the vehicle again, he was asked to keep silent. Soon, the male victim heard the police personnel speaking and got to know that his father had been beaten to death.

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The mob then turned towards the police gypsy. The victims were pulled out and the policeman left the spot, leaving the victims to the mob. Tears of the women victims were torn off and the male victim was beaten up. (Manipur Violence Full Story)

The CBI Registers Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case charging the accused in the case under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including murder, gang rape, outraging the modesty of a woman, and criminal conspiracy. According to the charge sheet, a case has been registered against the following accused: 

Huirem Herodash Meitei (32), arrested by Manipur police on July 20

Arun Khundongbam alias Nanao (31), arrested by Manipur police on July 21

Ningombam Tomba Singh alias Tomthin (18), arrested by Manipur police on July 20 

Pukhrihongbam Suranjoy Meitei (24), arrested by Manipur police on July 22

Nameirakpam Kiram Meitei (30), arrested by Manipur police on July 24 

A juvenile, apprehended by Manipur police on July 20

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The unsettling details make us question our trust in the Indian police force, which consistently fails to ensure the safety of women and Manipur's occurrence serves as proof of it. Further, it underscores another concern: if not the police, where can we women in the country turn for refuge?