What the CBI’s takeover in the viral Manipur vase means for justice

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s paramount investigative agency, is swooping down on the infamous Manipur viral video case. This shocking episode involving the sexual assault and public humiliation of two women has gripped the nation. The sensational case has reportedly been handed over to the CBI by the Union Home Ministry, with a proposition to conduct the trial outside the state, possibly in Assam.

The phone that captured this horrifying event has been recovered by the police, leading to the arrest of the perpetrator who filmed the incident. The Union Home Ministry is also in active discussions with Meitei and Kuki groups to help restore peace in Manipur, a state currently riddled with ethnic violence.

This chilling episode took place in early May, following a clash between the Meitei and Kuki communities. However, it only exploded into the national consciousness a week ago, igniting widespread outrage as the video of the incident went viral. The local police arrested seven individuals, including the main suspect, once the video started circulating.

Shift of power: CBI takes charge in horrifying Manipur assault case. Photo courtesy of Pulakit Singh/Wikimedia Commons.

Manipur has been a hotbed of ethnic violence for the past three months, with the death toll crossing 160. The violence was triggered by a protest rally held by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) against a proposal to include the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

This tumultuous scenario in Manipur has reverberated in the Indian Parliament, where the opposition is grilling the government and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the issue. A no-confidence motion against the government has been accepted and a discussion is set for next week. Opposition leaders stress that the aim is to ensure that the Prime Minister speaks about the Manipur issue in parliament, an event that may not have occurred otherwise.