Indian women set fire to home of suspect in rape case enraging nation
An angry mob of women in northeast India attacked the home of a main suspect in the gang rape of two minority women in May which has enraged the country.
The revenge attack on Friday in Manipur was in response to a video that went viral on social media this week that showed two women, aged 19 and 21, being stripped naked and paraded through a street two months ago.
The victims were part of a larger group running from a village in the Kangpokpi district as it was burned by a mob of 800 to 1,000 people.
Police said the man is believed to have dragged the two tribal women onto the street and incited the mob to rape them and march them through the community.
“Local women pelted stones and burnt some parts of the house belonging to the prime accused in a village,” said Hemant Pandey, a senior police official in the state capital Imphal, confirmed Friday.
“We request women to protest peacefully as there is intense unease. We understand their rage.”
The home of a man believed to have spearheaded an attack on two women who were stripped naked and paraded through a street in India was attacked by an angry mob of women seeking revenge. AFP via Getty Images
“Local women pelted stones and burnt some parts of the house belonging to the prime accused in a village,” said a senior police official. AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images
The main rape suspect, a Manipur resident, was arrested on Thursday hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the May assault as “shameful” and promised tough action.
Three others were arrested and police are tracing at least 30 others involved in the crime.
A police complaint filed in May said an armed mob vandalized some houses and burnt them to the ground before attacking members belonging to the Kuki tribe.
India police said the mob of women pelted the home of the alleged rape ringleader with stones. AFP via Getty Images
Protestors hold placards as they attend a protest against the alleged sexual assault of two tribal women. REUTERS
The assault was reported by the victims at the time, a period when the state witnessed intense ethnic clashes.
The fighting was triggered by a court order that the government should consider extending special benefits enjoyed by the tribal Kuki people to the majority Meitei population as well.
At least 125 people have been killed and more than 40,000 have fled their homes since the violence erupted.
With Post wires.
Source: New York Post
