Imphal: The key accused involved in parading two women naked in Manipur has been arrested following a massive outrage after the video of the incident went viral on Wednesday, media reports said.

The accused, identified as Heradas (32), was arrested in Thoubal district, India Today reported.

The police identified him with the help of the video that went viral in which he was seen wearing a green T-shirt, the report said.

The viral video of the egregious act triggered fresh tensions in the hilly areas of Manipur.

According to reports, the incident took place on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, a day after violence broke out in the northeast state.

The accused was arrested at around 1.30 am on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

The police registered a case of abduction, gangrape, and murder.

The police have launched an extensive effort to nab the culprits, forming as many as 12 teams to speed up arresting the accused individuals involved in the heinous crime.

The Manipur government said its main focus is on bringing those responsible will to justice and ensuring the safety and security of the community.

The events before the crime

As per the police complaint, on the day of the incident, a large group of around 800 to 1,000 people, armed with sophisticated weapons, entered B. Phainom village.

They went on a rampage vandalising, looting properties, and setting houses on fire.

These miscreants were suspected to have links with Meitei organizations.

Amidst the chaos, five villagers—two men and three women—took refuge in the nearby forest to escape the violence.

A team from Nongpok Sekmai Police later rescued them and began escorting them to the police station. Unfortunately, during this process, the mob abducted them.

The mob killed one of the men immediately and then subjected the three women to a horrifying ordeal. They stripped the women, and one of the women, aged 21, was brutally gang-raped. When her 19-year-old brother tried to intervene, he was also murdered by the mob.