Huirem Herodas is an Indian man, who was the main accused in the Kuki women’s naked parading incident in Manipur. He came into the headlines after the horrific video of sexual assault of two women emanating from Manipur went viral on the internet in July 2023.
Wiki/Biography
Khuriem Hero Das [1]News18, also known as Khuyrum Heradas [2]ABP Live, or Huirem Herodas Meitei [3]YouTube – Hindustan Times, was born in 1991 (age 32 years; as of 2023). He hails from Pechi Awang Leikai, Manipur. He is suspected to be a member of Meitei Youth Organisations, Meetei Leepun, Kangleipak Kanba Lup, Arambai Tenggol and World Meitei Council, and Schedule Tribe Demand Committee. [4]The Wire
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 8″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Apparently, he belongs to the Meitei community. [5]The Wire
Parents & Siblings
Not much is known about his parents and siblings.
Wife & Children
There is no information about his marital status.
Manipur Women Viral Video
In July 2023, a video went viral on the internet, showing two women being paraded naked on the street by a group of men. The video was apparently shot on 4 May, when amid the ongoing ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kukis, two Kuki women were stripped off by the men from the other community and then made to parade naked in B Phainom village in Kangpokpi district. The video sparked nationwide outrage, with many popular personalities including politicians and celebrities condemning the act. In response to the spine-chilling video, Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh stated that the government was contemplating “capital punishment” for those responsible. Soon after the video went viral on social media platforms, the government issued an official order to Twitter and other social media platforms, instructing them not to disseminate the viral video depicting the nude parade of the two Manipuri women.
A case of abduction, gang rape, and murder was registered against the culprits in Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district and as many as 12 teams were constructed by the Manipur Police to arrest the accused. Based on the police complaint, approximately 800 to 1,000 individuals armed with sophisticated weapons invaded B. Phainom village on the day of the incident. They proceeded to vandalize, loot properties, and set houses on fire. The suspects behind these acts were believed to be affiliated with Meitei organizations. Amidst the attack, a group of five villagers, consisting of two men and three women, sought refuge in the forest to escape the violence. However, they were eventually rescued by the Nongpok Sekmai Police team and being escorted to the police station when a mob intercepted and abducted them. Tragically, one of the men was killed instantly by the mob, and the three women endured a horrifying ordeal as they were forced to take off their clothes, and one of them, aged 21, fell victim to a brutal gang rape. When her 19-year-old brother tried to intervene to protect her, he, too, lost his life at the hands of the violent mob. [6]ABP Live In a social media post, while talking about the Manipur incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said,
My heart is wrenched due to the incident in Manipur. The entire nation feels ashamed; such incidents of violence are disgraceful for the whole country and every citizen.”
Arrest
On 20 July 2023, Huirem Herodas, who was the main accused in the Manipur Women Parading incident was arrested by the Manipur Police at the Thoubal district. He was identified by the police through the video in which he was seen wearing a green T-shirt. After his arrest, a police official in a media conversation said,
He is seen in the video wearing a green check shirt. We have taken him into custody and are interrogating him,”
Informing the public about Heradas’ arrest, Manipur CM Biren Singh, wrote,
After taking a Suo-moto cognisance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur Police swung to action and made the first arrest this morning. A thorough investigation is currently underway and we will ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment.”
