The Supreme Court raised concerns on Thursday regarding the recent reports of 34 unnatural deaths among internally displaced people (IDPs) in Manipur, a region affected by ethnic violence. The court expressed shock at the state’s apparent inaction, highlighting the lack of criminal investigations and post-mortem examinations related to these deaths. This situation has prompted questions about the accountability of local authorities in addressing such incidents.
The court directed the Manipur Legal Services Authority to take up the matter immediately and ensure cases are registered in all unnatural death cases. It ordered the authority to ascertain the cause of deaths and take necessary measures to ensure the safety and dignity of the victims staying in the camps. A three-member court-appointed Justice (retd) Gita Mittal-led committee, overseeing relief and rehabilitation in Manipur, told the bench that it found the chief secretary’s response unsatisfactory after it sought it following a news report in June on the unnatural deaths of 25 IDPs in camps, including one after a sexual assault.
The court directed the state to ensure IDPs are treated with dignity and provided medical facilities and day-to-day needs. She added that the SITs filed closure reports in the remaining cases. She added closure reports were filed in the remaining cases. Advocate Nizam Pasha, who appeared for the victims, pointed out that the CBI trials are being conducted in a special court in Guwahati. He added that this is the only CBI court in the state handling other cases of the agency as well. The Supreme Court sought an additional CBI court to ensure the one hearing the matters can exclusively deal with the Manipur violence matters.
It also took up a report about the status of investigations by 42 special investigation teams (SITs) probing 3,020 cases related to the Manipur violence. Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the SITs, informed the court that 1,135 cases are still under investigation. She added that the probe has been concluded in 1,583 cases. Bhati said charge sheets were filed in only 302 cases. Bhati said trials have commenced in 33 cases. Bhati said charge sheets have been filed in 28 of the 31 cases the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing. Bhati said only six of 900 CBI witnesses have been examined.
