Delhi: 4 men arrested for molesting two Manipuri girls granted bail

A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to four of the five persons arrested for allegedly beating and molesting two Manipuri girls and hurling racist abuses at them.

Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri allowed the bail pleas of accused Prem Raj, Bhagwandas, Yogesh Prasad and Manoj while asking them to furnish bail bond of Rs 30,000 each with surety of the like amount.

The court, however, imposed certain conditions and asked them not to leave the national capital without informing it. It further said that they should not "try to contact the witnesses or influence them in any manner".

The fifth accused Bharat Singh is in judicial custody.

The five accused had on February 4 refused to undergo test identification parade, saying the complainants will identify them as they are locals. The incident, which occurred at Kotla Mubarakpur area on January 25 evening, came to light following an uproar over the death of a student from Arunachal Pradesh Nido Tania, who was allegedly assaulted by shopkeepers on January 29.

Facing criticism over "delay" in lodging of a first information report and alleged inaction, police initially arrested 32-year-old Prem from Kotla Mubarakpur, seven days after the incident.

The police booked the five under section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) read with 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and section 3 (11) of SC/ST Act

According to the police, the two girls were beaten up by a group of men who were in their late 20s.