Heart of darkness: One held in racist attack on Manipuri women

On 24 January at around 9.30 pm, one of the victims had gone to buy some herbs at a local shop run by her acquaintance, who also belongs to the north-eastern region. Meanwhile, a man came walking down the street with a pet dog when the latter’s leash got tangled with the woman’s shoes. Frightened, she panicked and in a bid to get rid of the dog, she started kicking the animal, though the dog managed to flee the spot without being hit.

As the man started an altercation with the woman, which her shop-owner friend tried to stop, the actual owner of the dog, Prem Chand, arrived at the spot. Thence, the argument turned violent as he started beating both the women with the assistance of a few men who were also present. The accused not only thrashed the two women, even molested them in full public view. The men passed lewd and racist remarks targeting the victims.

In their statement to the police, the victims alleged that when the incident was taking place, no one from the crowd came to their rescue despite the fact that it was a busy stretch. The women then approached the Kotla Mubarakpur police station at around 10.35 pm and narrated their entire ordeal. The policemen sent both the victims to a nearby hospital where they were given medical assistance. Meanwhile, on the statement of the women, a case was registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) read with 34 (common intention) and section 3 (11) of SC/ST Act.

Bhagat said that after the women’s supplementary statement, sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) was added in the FIR on 29 January. A manhunt was initiated to establish the accused’s identity and he was arrested on Sunday from his house.