Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: The Supreme Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation on November 3 to secure the testimony of the third victim in the 2023 Manipur sexual violence case. Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, set specific appearance dates for the witness in the Guwahati special trial court. The CBI must ensure she testifies on November 13, 16, and 19.
Proceedings are moving forward. One victim already underwent cross-examination, and the court is currently recording testimony from the second. The case stems from a May 4, 2023, attack in Thoubal district. A mob allegedly stripped and paraded three Kuki-Zo women. Two of these women were reportedly gang-raped, while the attackers allegedly killed the father and brother of one victim.
Accused party Yumlembam Jiban Singh is pushing for bail. His lawyer, Shadan Farasat, argued that the, "trial had been delayed for one reason or another despite the Supreme Court's directions." The bench intends to hold off on bail decisions until the key victim-witnesses complete their testimony.
This case remains part of the court's oversight of the ethnic conflict that erupted on May 3, 2023, following a tribal solidarity march. Thousands remain displaced while the court monitors safety within relief camps. The bench previously pushed Manipur and Assam officials to consider establishing two special courts to handle the backlog of CBI and National Investigation Agency cases related to the violence.
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