NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI: CBI on Saturday formally took over the investigation into the alleged sexual assault on two women by a mob in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on May 4, a video clip of which went viral on social media platforms earlier this month triggering a nationwide outrage.

The central agency, which is already probing six other cases regarding the unrest in the state, has registered the seventh FIR relating to the viral video and a special probe team, led by a DIG-rank officer, has been stationed in Imphal. The FIR has been filed under sections of abduction, gang rape, murder and use of criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.
Earlier, Home minister Amit Shah had said that the Centre had requested the Supreme Court to shift the trial of these cases outside the state. Shah also said that the man who filmed the assault of the two women had been arrested and that security forces had established a 35,000 personnel-strong buffer zone to prevent ethnic clashes.

CBI will now seek custody of the seven suspects apprehended by the Manipur police in the case relating to the viral video and interrogate them afresh.
The probe by the agency started in the aftermath of the Centre filing an affidavit before SC, saying that the probe into the incident would be conducted by CBI. On Wednesday, the Manipur government had written to the secretary of the department of personnel and training for transfer of the case to CBI for further investigation, which was recommended by the home ministry the next day.