Manipur: Upon hearing about Herodas’ arrest, the women of Petchi village gathered together and proceeded to the accused’s house after a brief discussion among themselves. Once there, they began vandalizing the property and eventually set it on fire.

A Meira Paibi leader, representing the women torchbearers group known for their senior women-led activism with no strict hierarchy or political affiliations, expressed their disapproval of any act that undermines a woman’s dignity. They emphasized that such individuals cannot be tolerated in their society and bring shame to the entire Meitei community.

Despite the incident occurring over two months ago, it recently gained national attention when a short video circulated on social media, leading to widespread outrage.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh faced public pressure and called for resignation due to the delayed police action in identifying the culprits. He explained that there were numerous FIRs filed during the ongoing violence, making it challenging for the police to pinpoint the responsible parties. However, as soon as the video emerged, swift action was taken, resulting in the arrest of two individuals, including the main culprit.

Since early May, there has been a conflict between two tribal groups in Manipur—the Meiteis, residing in the valleys and forming the majority, and the Kuki-Zomis, living in the hills—over the long-standing Meitei demand for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).