Four cops who watched MBA student lynching in Manipur, suspended

Days after a video of 26-year-old MBA student was allegedly lynched to death by a bunch of people in Manipur surfaced in presence policemen, four cops have been suspended. The four policemen were seen in the viral video watching the incident, but did nothing to save him. The victim later succumbed to his injuries. 

The video of the incident went viral on social media which showed that four police personnel were present at the spot when the victim, Farooque Khan, was being mercilessly beaten up on suspicion of stealing vehicles. Farooque Khan was a resident of Thoubal district. 

Two others with the victim, who managed to escape, are yet to be identified. Local people set a car on fire believed to have been used by the victim and his friends. 

Several videos recorded by witnesses showed the man was writhing in pain while being mercilessly beaten up. The clip was circulated on social media. “Thirteen people were involved in the lynching of the youth and all of them have been identified,” Imphal West Superintendent of Police Jogeschandra Haobijam told news agency PTI. “We have arrested five people and the rest will be nabbed soon.”

Manipur Deputy Inspector General Jayanta Singh requested people to not take law in their hands. “The culprits were arrested for their involvement in attacking the youths,” he said. “It is up to the court to decide whether the arrested persons are guilty or not,” Singh added. 

The mob attack triggered sharp condemnation and sit-in protests by social activists in the area. The Manipur Human Rights Commission also directed the state director general of police to probe the incident and submit a report by September 22.

The accused have been booked under IPC sections 302 (murder), 117 (abetting commission of an offence by public or by more than 10 people) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh too has ordered a fast-track probe into the incident and also on the alleged police negligence.

Also read: Manipur: Man lynched on suspicion of stealing vehicles, 5 arrested