Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: The Supreme Court has demanded faster progress in the trials related to the ethnic violence that broke out in Manipur in May 2023. A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Joymalya Bagchi recently sought a status report from authorities, emphasizing that the judicial process must be handled with greater urgency.
This intervention follows the Central Bureau of Investigation's challenge to the Gauhati High Court's decision to grant bail to two suspects accused of gang-rape and assault. The court noted that restoring the faith of victims in the justice system is essential and called for continued confidence-building measures. To assist those affected, the bench directed officials to provide legal aid counsel who are well-versed in the region to support victims and their families.
Reports presented to the court indicate that chargesheets have been filed in 207 cases involving over 400 individuals, with trials currently underway in 16 of them. However, a report from former IPS officer Dattatray Padsalgikar described the local law and order situation as precarious, citing ongoing violence and strain on the state police force.
The ethnic clashes in Manipur began last year following a protest march regarding the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The ensuing conflict resulted in over 260 deaths and widespread displacement. The Supreme Court previously took suo motu notice of the crisis in July 2023 after disturbing footage of an assault emerged, leading to the formation of the Justice Gita Mittal Commission to oversee relief and rehabilitation efforts.
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