CBI takes over investigation of Manipur sex assault case

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation in a case of alleged sexual assault on two women by a mob in Manipur on May 4, a video clip of which went viral on social media platforms earlier this month, officials said on Saturday.

The video showing two women from one of the warring communities in the state being paraded naked by men from the other side went viral on July 19, resulting in a massive uproar across the country on crimes allegedly being committed in the northeastern state.

The video, which drew widespread condemnation, shows the men constantly molesting the two helpless women, who cry and plead with their captors to spare them the horror. The case was handed over to the CBI on a reference from the Union home ministry, the officials said.

The government had decided to hand over the case of the alleged assault to the CBI, which was already roped in to probe six cases related to violence in Manipur. The state police had registered a case of abduction, gang rape and murder at the Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district on May 18 against unidentified armed people.

CBI will dispatch some more women officers, besides forensic experts, to probe the case, the officials said. The video was doing the rounds of social media on the eve of a planned protest march announced by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) to highlight the plight of tribals in Manipur.