Fought for country but couldn't protect wife, says Kargil veteran
The husband of one of the women, who was paraded naked in Manipur by a mob, is an ex-armyman and had fought in the Kargil War. He said he protected the nation but could not protect his wife.
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From the India Today News Desk: Unprecedented indignation has been generated by a video that leaked on Wednesday showing two women being paraded naked and assaulted in Manipur's Kangpokpi. The protection of women and the function of the police in upholding law and order have come under scrutiny from opposition politicians.
One of the women in the video has a husband who is a former soldier who served in the Kargil War. He had been an Assam Regiment Subedar in the Indian Army.
He remarked, when asked about the distressing occurrence, "I served my country by fighting in the Kargil War and by being a member of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka. I defended the country, but I'm disappointed that, after I retired, I was unable to defend my house, my wife, and my fellow villagers.
The ex-army soldier described himself as "sad" and "depressed" when speaking to a Hindi news programme. He called for the accused to be punished. Despite being present, the police did nothing. I want exemplary punishment for everyone who set the houses on fire and made the women feel ashamed," he stated.
"I have witnessed the battles at the front in Kargil. My own abode is more perilous than the battlefield when I get home (after my retirement)," he told the Times of India.
"They arrived in our town and immediately began destroying homes. My wife and I became separated as all of the villagers attempted to flee for their lives. She hid in the wilderness with four other peasants. Some of the assailants discovered them there while searching the village for our pigs and chickens, he claimed.
By that time, the attackers had picked up the retired soldier and other locals and brought them to the dirt road in the community.
He claimed, "I could see them taking my wife and the others away."
The old footage dates back to May 4, one day after Manipur experienced unrest. The state was first rocked by fighting during a Tribal Solidarity March against the Meitei community's desire for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation, which was organised in the hill areas.
On June 21, well over a month after the incident, a FIR was submitted in the case. According to the FIR, three ladies were made to strip. A group raped one of the ladies, who was 21 years old. Her 19-year-old brother was slain as he tried to step in and stop it.
Thursday, a day after the video went viral, saw the arrest of four people in connection with the case.
