Centre Asks CBI To Probe Manipur Horror Video, Wants Trials Outside State

The case of the horror video from Manipur -- which showed two women being paraded naked by a mob -- will be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Centre said in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court. The Union Home Ministry has referred the case to the CBI days after it evoked nationwide outrage and sparked a huge political face-off with the united opposition. Sources said the government also wants to run the trial outside the northeastern state, which has been witnessing violence for the last three months. 

Seven people have already been arrested in the case -- the last one was arrested from Thoubal district on Monday.

"Several Police teams have been formed for mass operation at several locations to arrest identified culprits and an Additional SP rank officer has been entrusted to investigate the case, under the constant supervision of other senior police officials," the affidavit said. 

The Centre underlined that the trial should be conducted in a time-bound manner.

"The approach of the Central Government is of zero tolerance towards any crimes against women. The Central Government considers the offences like the present one to be too heinous which deserve to be taken not only with the seriousness it deserves but justice should be seen to be done so that it has a deterrent effect throughout the nation with respect to crimes against women," the Centre added. 

The video from Manipur, coming ahead of the monsoon session of parliament, generated furore in the house, with the opposition demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When the government made it clear that none was coming, the opposition took a circuitous route, pushing for a no-confidence motion against the government which has been accepted by Speaker Om Birla.

Opposition leaders said they know the numbers are on government's side, but the aim of the motion, they said, was to compel the Prime Minister to speak on Manipur in the House, which would not have happened otherwise. MPs from the opposition INDIA front will visit Manipur on Saturday and Sunday to assess the situation.

Sources said yesterday that the government is likely to seek cooperation for the Manipur discussion after the no confidence motion was accepted.

The Centre's plea would be that now the PM's presence has been secured by way of no-confidence motion, a discussion on Manipur should take place in which Union Home Minister Amit Shah would respond.

A key point in the government's defence will be that after major violence took place in the state in 1993 and 1997, no statement was made in parliament in one case and in the other, the junior home minister had made a statement.                                                                                                                       

Their stance is that in absence of a precedent, there is no cause for the opposition to demand a statement from the Prime Minister.

The opposition contends that in view of the 140-plus deaths, injuries and displacements of thousands of people since the ethnic violence broke out in May, there is nothing more urgent that can demand the Prime Minister's attention.

The government's current move – calling for a CBI probe -- is seen as an effort to firefight in another direction – the huge public outrage in Manipur – a BJP-ruled state -- and out.

The violence in Manipur has even drawn attention abroad, with the European Parliament adopting a resolution on the human rights situation in India, with particular reference to the recent clashes in Manipur.

The government has said Manipur is a "internal matter. The European parliament's move reflects a "colonial mindset" and is "unacceptable", the foreign ministry had said.